President Samia Launches Clean Cooking Energy Strategy to Combat Respiratory Diseases and Deforestation

 

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has revealed that over 33,000 Tanzanians die each year from respiratory diseases, largely caused by smoke inhalation from wood and charcoal usage. 

She made these remarks today at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam during the launch of the Clean Cooking Energy Utilization Strategy 2024 – 2034.

President Samia highlighted the disproportionate impact of dirty energy on women, who are the primary victims, and emphasized that the clean energy strategy will not only improve health outcomes but also uplift them economically.

Additionally, President Samia stated that approximately 469,000 hectares of forests (roughly equivalent to the size of Dar es Salaam City) are lost annually due to deforestation for wood and charcoal production. 

This loss exacerbates the challenge of accessing wood and charcoal, sometimes surpassing the difficulty of finding food.