The Viziwi Secondary School in Njombe has officially begun using clean cooking energy as part of the government's initiative aimed at reducing the use of harmful energy sources and protecting the health of users as well as the environment.
This development was highlighted during a visit by a team of experts from the Ministry of Energy, who came to the school to assess the implementation of the program promoting the use of clean cooking energy in various public institutions.
During the visit, Nsajigwa Maclean, a Geologist from the Clean Cooking Energy Unit at the Ministry of Energy, stated that the school has successfully moved away from using firewood and charcoal, opting instead for cleaner energy that is safer for both health and the environment.
He mentioned that the campaign to promote the use of clean cooking energy is ongoing in various areas of Njombe, Tanzania explaining that the use of gas, energy-efficient stoves, and electricity helps reduce the destruction of forests caused by the cutting down of trees for firewood and charcoal.
Maclean added that the smoke produced from traditional energy sources has been contributing to respiratory diseases among cooks and students, thus the adoption of clean energy helps protect their health and improve the learning environment at school.
Also, Rosemary Mbuya, the Head of Viziwi Secondary School in Njombe, noted that the decision to switch to clean energy was prompted by a government directive as well as the challenges posed by the high costs of firewood and charcoal that were previously used.
"The cost of purchasing firewood and charcoal was extremely high, and we often had to source them from far away. Additionally, our cooks frequently faced health challenges due to the smoke," Mbuya said, adding that since the switch to clean energy, cooking time has decreased and kitchen efficiency has increased while the environment is better protected.
These efforts are a crucial step in safeguarding health against diseases caused by harmful energy sources in Tanzania.