- He explained that smoke inhalation from firewood and charcoal kills 300,000 children and 300,000 women each year
Around 600,000 women and children in Africa die annually from exposure to smoke caused by cooking with firewood and charcoal, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has revealed.
Speaking at the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Adesina highlighted that 1.2 billion African women lack access to clean cooking sources, leading to severe health risks.
He explained that smoke inhalation from firewood and charcoal kills 300,000 children and 300,000 women each year. “Why should anyone die trying to cook a decent meal? This is unacceptable,” he said.
The summit, themed “Mission 300,” focuses on providing electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030, a joint initiative of the AfDB and the World Bank. Adesina stressed that clean cooking technologies, such as biogas and liquefied petroleum gas, are vital to achieving this goal.
To bridge the gap, $4 billion is needed annually, with the AfDB pledging $2 billion. Countries like Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ghana have committed to 100% access to clean cooking solutions by 2030.
“This is not just about energy transition; it’s about dignity and saving lives,” Adesina concluded.
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