By Angela Atabo
Five thousand households are set to enjoy free gas cylinders with six months free refill of their cooking gas under the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) ‘Breathe Clean Air Initiative’.
The Mandate Secretary, FCTA, Health and Environment Secretariat (FCT-HES), Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, made this known at the inauguration of the Safe Environment Renewable Project- Breath clean Air Abuja,on Saturday in Abuja.
According to Fasawe, the focus of the programme is not about sharing palliatives, but to address ignorance around people’s environment and help women manage the home and health of their household better.
She stated that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu had touched every area of human life with the aim of improving standards of living for all classes of people.
Fasawe stated that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had keyed into the visions of the president and had shown enough commitment towards making the FCT a better place for all.
She added, “The truth is, health is wealth. Health and environment are equal. So the focus of this programme is not only to give out palliatives, as we have done in the past. The focus of the programme is to address the Renewed Hope Agenda Initiatives.
“It is to tell Nigerians that if only we can put our hands together, and not wait for governments alone, we can have a happy, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria. Because truly, with peace and prosperity Nigeria will be great again.”
Also speaking, Dr Babagena Adams, Permanent Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCTA, said that the initiative was important, as it would help to end the stress that pregnant women pass through.
Adams said, “We are also saving the pregnant women, along with their families.
“So, if they live healthy, they will be more productive, and the GDP of FCT will increase. So a healthy community is a wealthy community, that is the benefit.”
Earlier in his speech, a partner of the initiative and the Chief Executive Officer, IHS Nigeria Limited, Mohammed Darwish, said that the initiative was designed to help stop mothers and their children from inhaling toxic gases that are injurious to their health.
Darwish said some of the hazards that followed long use of fire wood, charcoals for cooking were lung cancer diseases, among other lung-related ailments.
“The six month voucher distributed in addition to the cylinder would encourage the beneficiaries to sustain the usage of the gas cylinders.
“This programme, in a nutshell, is about helping 5,000 mothers, sisters, and daughters by not inhaling toxic gases anymore.
“It is also by really making sure that their health is better by breathing fresh air,” he added.
The Executive Vice President of HIS, Ayotade Oyinlola, who spoke on the impact of the initiative, said the distribution would significantly reduce family income spent on medical bills.
Dr Ayuba Hannatu, a Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist, National Hospital Abuja, and Secretary, Nigerian Cancer Society, FCT chapter, said the initiative was centred on health prevention, while considering lifestyle improvement.
Adding her voice, Daniela Omotola, who was one those spearheading the campaign, using Rotaract Clubs in Abuja, praised the project as a timely, life-changing intervention.
Omotola said it would help to reduce pollution-related illnesses and support a healthier FCT.
Stakeholders at the launch maintained that as more households transition to cooking gas, the pressure on surrounding ecosystems including tree losses, soil degradation and rising temperatures is expected to decline over time.
(NAN)
