By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Stakeholders in the climate change and environment sector have been challenged to proffer solutions and insights into the adaptation, health, and economic security challenges of women in low-income settings.
The call was made in Abuja on Saturday at the premiere of Yan Gurasa—a 15-minute documentary capturing the lives of women gurasa bakers in Kano, and the growing health and livelihood challenges they face under extreme heat conditions.
The event was organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC).
The premiere also marks the final lap of the Muryarta Araya Muhalli project, which has spotlighted women-led climate action and resilience across Northern Nigeria.
Ifeoluwa Olawumi, Lead, Gender Justice Pillar, OXFAM in an address said 98,000 premature deaths are recorded in Nigeria due to exposure to fumes and all kinds of smoke.
She said mostly affected are women and girls who have to put meals on the table for the family.
The wife of the Chief of Defence Staff and President, the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Oghogho Musa speaking at the event called for a collective response to the plight of the affected women, creation of more awareness on the need for the women to live a healthier life and how they sustain their business without undue exposure to health hazards.
Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs Zainab Bala of GSCC said the project is to do a campaign around clean cooking and how climate change affect women particularly their health.
She said “As you have seen in the documentary basically what we are focusing on is the health impact of climate change and heat on women bakers in kano.”
The film according to the organizers is a frontline evidence, a grounded, human-centred story of heat stress, indoor air exposure, and resilience in the informal economy, gendered perspective, Insights into the adaptation, health, and economic security challenges of women in low-income settings and pathways for action: Exploring opportunities for cleaner heat sources, workplace cooling, micro-finance for safer ovens, social protection, and behaviour-change communications.
The wives of the Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of representatives, Minister of State for Defence, Minister of Housing and Minister of Health also graced the occasion.
