Clean Cookstoves Could Change the Lives of Millions in Nepal

In Nepal almost 22 million people are affected by indoor air pollution. Credit: Mallika Aryal/IPSBy Mallika AryalPHARPING, Nepal, Apr 15 2015 (IPS)When 26-year-old Laxmi married into the Archaya household in Chhaimale village, Pharping, south of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, she didn’t think she would be spending half the day in the kitchen inhaling smoke from the stove.“The smoke made me cough so much I couldn’t breathe. It was difficult to cook,” the young woman tells IPS.“[Open] fires and traditional cookstoves and fuels is one of the world's most pressing health and environmental problems.” -- Global Alliance for Clean CookstovesAt the time, the family was using a rudimentary cookstove, the kind that has been found to be inefficient, unsafe and unhealthy. These stoves release hazardous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter and nitrous oxide, cause burns and sometimes disfigurement and put million of people – particularly women – at risk of severe health problems.The toxic gases are known to create respiratory problems, pneumonia, blindness, heart diseases, cancer and even low birth rates. Every year 4.3 million premature deaths worldwide are attributed to indoor air pollution.In Nepal almost 22 million people are affected by it.Six months ago, Laxmi and her father-in-law realised that the women in their neighbourhood, a village of about 4,000 people, were getting their housework done faster and had free time to do other things.When Laxmi’...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Aid Asia-Pacific Civil Society Climate Change Development & Aid Economy & Trade Editors' Choice Energy Environment Featured Food & Agriculture Gender Headlines Health Natural Resources Population Poverty & MDGs Projects Source Type: news