WHY IMPROVED COOKSTOVES MATTER ON COMMEMORATION OF 2014 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

In a world where modern technology is penetrating the far outskirts of this planet, a silent crisis is also taking place- destroying the environment, affecting the health, well being, dignity and development of millions of people especially in developing countries. Each year International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The first International Women's Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 3 billion people globally are exposed to smoke resulting from traditional cooking and heating methods such as using firewood and leaky cookstoves. Women and children are the most affected by the health problems associated with cookstove smoke, which contributes to more deaths a year globally.

Abibiman Foundation in collaboration with GHACCO, SNV Ghana, celebrate of international Women's Day in Tema Newtown. A visit to Tema Newtown where these women smoke fish reveals that about 91% of their source of fire for smoking fish comes from the firewood. Abibiman Foundation currently work with organized women groups in Tema Newtown on issues of environmental sustainability because majority of this women rely on fishing as their only source of livelihood and the methodology that is used to smoke the fish involves the use of firewood which is produced through cutting down of trees. These women smoke fish in open fires and traditional cookstoves, they play a crucial role in the adoption and use of clean cooking solutions because of their responsibilities as cooks and managers of their households.

The objective for this year International Women's Day Celebration in Ghana is to inspire change by engaging Ghanaian women to fight climate change by promoting the use of Improved clean cookstoves which has proven to be an effective technology in reducing the use of firewood for cooking to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and protect the environment by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions.

The choice of venue for the celebrations is because majority of women in Tema Newtown rely on fishing as their only source of livelihood and the methodology that is used to smoke the fish involves the use of firewood which is produced through cutting down of trees. These women smoke fish in open fires through the use of traditional cookstoves which pollutes the environment and can cause cataracts, cancer, heart disease and mostly is the women and children who are affected because cooking is seen as the woman responsibility.

Introduce clean cookstoves to the community because women play a crucial role in the adoption and use of clean cooking solutions because of their responsibilities as cooks and managers of their households. SNV Ghana has pilot one of the cookstoves which intends to support the women of tema newtown and enhance projects on the ground by introducing them to clean cookstoves which is environmental friendly and also ensure that women of tema newtown are economically empowered to use clean cookstove technologies, fuels, equipment, and practices that address the health and environmental impacts associated with traditional cookstoves.

The overall objective of the Days celebration is to get the women fish mongers in tema newtown to adopt the clean cookstove to enhance clean environment, preserve our trees and also promote healthy life style among these women for their benefit and the community at large.

Cooking is essential and should not kill.