By Amin Kef Sesay
A virtual program convened on the 9th June 2021 by the World Health Organization, the World Bank Group, UNDP and the UN Department of Economic & Social Affairs to facilitate universal access to Clean Cooking and Health Care Facility electrification, including the high-level launch of the Coalition on Health and Energy Partnership for Action (HEPA) was moderated by Hon. Yumkella.
It could be recalled that about 3 billion people are exposed to high levels of health-damaging pollutants each and every day due to the lack of access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking. Such chronic exposure to household air pollution is the cause of nearly 4 million deaths annually from non-communicable diseases (including heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer), as well as pneumonia.
It was stated during the meeting that at the same time, an estimated 1 billion people globally are served by health facilities with no access to electricity.
Worthy of note is that electricity is essential for the operation and servicing of life-saving and critically needed medical devices, such as vaccine refrigeration and surgical-emergency, laboratory and diagnostic equipment, as well as for basic amenities such as lighting and clean water. In many cases, access to electricity can make the difference between life and death, as has been starkly seen during this ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Using his native and Kychom Constituency as a real example, Hon. Yumkella underscored the importance for people to gain access to energy around the world and for his country, his political constituency and for socio-economic development.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby and the Minister of Energy Alhaji Kanja Sesay, dilated on the Sierra Leone Government’s effort to give the general public access to energy and good health care.
Other participants included Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus- DG of WHO, M Achim Steiner – UNDP Administrator, Liu Zhenmin – UN DESA Under-Secretary-General, Commissioner Michelle Bachelet of UN -OHCHR, Mr. Francesco La Camera – DG IRENA among numerous others.
