The exposure to toxic cookstove smoke causes health problems and the impact is so great that is now the fifth leading cause of death in developing countries and the fourth leading cause of diseases in developing countries (WHO, 2015). However it may be the world’s biggest killer, but is also one of the least well-known killers (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015).The Kenkey makers and children are affected most, since they spend the longest time near the cookstove. The acrid smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs of its victims and can cause severe diseases. Although everyone is exposed to ambient air pollution, the members of solid fuel-using households are experiencing very high exposures (WHO, 2015). The average personal exposures in solid cooking fuel-using households have recently been estimated. Women and children are more exposed to the toxic smoke and these exposures are all over 20 times WHO guideline levels.
In Ghana 84 percent of total population is affected by indoor air pollution (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015). The latest WHO estimates (2012) attributed about 4.3 million premature deaths to household air pollution exposures (WHO, 2015). Furthermore severe burns are caused when using traditional cookstoves or open dire, because of the inconvenient design, which does not follow safety standards. This contributes to a substantial percentage of the estimated 195.000 burn deaths that occur annually worldwide (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015). The illnesses lead to serious problems for the health and livelihood of these households. It is very difficult for them to escape poverty and they are locked in the poverty trap. Medical intervention is often lacking in these areas and so diseases and burns become much worse than needed.
Substantial health benefits could be prevented with improved adoption of clean and efficient cookstoves and fuels (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015). Smoke emissions can be reduced and people are no longer exposed to the air pollution. In Ghana 22 million peple are impacted by exposure to household air pollution each year and more than 13.000 deaths occur in Ghana each year as well. That is why the Ghanaian government has integrated clean cooking in Ghana’s Sustainable Energy for All Action Plan. Ghana is also one of the first Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves focus countries that has launched targeted-awareness raising campaigns and pilot projects.