The Sekyere South District Health Promotion Officer, Joseph Asore, has stated that exposure to smoke poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women.

He said prolonged exposure to smoke from charcoal and firewood could increase the risk of low birth weight and infant mortality.

Besides, it could exacerbate underlying health conditions such as asthma, and lead to respiratory tract infections, reduced lung function and even heart failure.

Speaking at the National Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) awareness and sensitisation campaign in Jamasi in the Ashanti Region, Mr Asore said, “Pregnant women are particularly at high risk, putting their lives and their unborn children at risk”.

“In most cases, it affects babies to the extent that it becomes visible in their weight. The normal weight of a newborn starts from 2.5kg.

“However, due to these risks, some children are born weighing less, which has lasting implications for them from an early stage,” he added.

Campaign

The national LPG campaign, being executed in collaboration with the Oil Sustainability Programme (OSP), an initiative of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Energy, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and Digicraft Advertising/Brand Management, includes market sensitisation, community durbars and town-hall meetings.

The four-day campaign in the Ashanti Region kicked off with market sensitisation in Ahwia Nkwanta and Agona, educating vendors and residents about the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM).

A community durbar was held at the Jamasi Community Centre, where participants were urged to support the initiative.

Speaking at the event, the Assistant Headmaster of Administration at Adu Gyamfi Senior High School, and the Chairman of the occasion, Emmanuel Eshun, praised the NPA’s CRM, calling it a valuable opportunity.

Mr Eshun further urged attendees to listen attentively to the details of the programme, as it will ultimately be profitable to all.

The Twafohene of Jamasi, Nana Kofi, thanked the NPA and partners for bringing awareness to Jamasi and its environs.

“Our forests have been severely damaged by fires and we welcome the introduction of gas as a safer alternative for cooking, which I believe will help protect our forests and environment,” he added.

In a presentation on CRM, a Supervisor from the Gas Directorate of the NPA, Johnson Gbagbo Jnr, gave comprehensive insights into CRM and shed more light on the policy.

Addressing the challenge of accessing gas refilling stations in Jamasi and why CRM was a necessity, Mr Gbagbo made parallel explanations of the cost of spending about GH¢6 on transportation from Jamasi to Agona to refill a cylinder — and the associated risks involved.

Mr Gbagbo explained that under the scheme, the exchange points would be at various strategic centres for easy access to gas without spending much or no money at all on transport.

Sketch

A short drama was performed to highlight the health risks associated with the continuous inhalation of smoke and the need for residents to embrace the CRM and adopt the safe use of LPG.

Addressing consumers at a Town Hall Meeting in Bekwai, the Head of Consumer Services at the NPA, Eunice Budu Nyarko, urged the public to regularly check the cylinder rubber seals (washers) around the valves and the connecting hoses to see if they were worn out or damaged.

The hoses serve as the gas distribution line between the cylinder and the cooker.