Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has urged African First ladies to use their influence to advocate for increased access to clean cooking solutions across Africa, to protect the health of women.
Dr. Hassan was speaking today in Tanzania, during the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2024, where 15 African and Asian First Ladies are in attendance.
She said cooking methods such as Charcoal and Firewood are a health hazard and mostly affect women as well as disturbs the environment.
Dr. Hassan said advocating for cleaner cooking methods is a gender responsive approach that the African First Ladies can help push for.
She said First Ladies have the power to persuasively influence the African Presidents towards the clean cooking solutions.
“Be Persuasive with warmth, it’s a women tradition to be warm,” advised Dr. Hassan as she gave her key note speech to officially open the meeting.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hassan called for global partnerships for African Countries to realize the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
She also thanked Merck Foundation for supporting SDGs on health and education across Africa.
And Speaking earlier, Merck Foundation Chairman of Board of Trustees, Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, said Merck Foundation has so far trained 2008 specialist Doctors across 52 countries through the Merck Scholarships program.
He said Merck foundation remains fully committed and that the organisation will continue working with partners to bridge the health and education care gaps in Africa and Asia.
Dr. Stangenberg-Haverkamp said Merck Foundation is proud of the education of girls component, which he said empowers the wellbeing of girls to realize their potential to achieve their goals.
By Eva Hatontola
