MBABANE MAYOR APPRECIATES BAGCUGCUTELI
…incredible work done by community volunteers praised during Volunteer Day
MBABANE – The Mbabane Mayor, Councillor Zephaniah Nkambule has shown appreciation of the critical role played by community health care volunteers in Mbabane.
The Mayor, who was accompanied by the Deputy Mayor Thandayena Mkhonta and Ward 12 Councillor Simangaliso Gama, held an event in honour of the incredible work that is done by the community health care volunteers popularly known in the communities as Banakekeli or Bagcugcuteli.
The Mayor pointed out that community health care volunteers put their lives at risk in the role that they play because often times they have to attend to sickly community members.
Nkambule added that the outbreak of Covid-19 has worsened the situation for community health care volunteers as the current pandemic places them in the face of danger everyday as they play their role of comforting and caring for the sickly.
Mbabane Mayor Zephaniah Nkambule is flanked by community volunteers and their food packs at the end of the event.
“Every day we are witnessing growing statistics of emaSwati that are dying due to Covid-19. This means that your role as leaders of Bagcugcuteli has just had a totally new dimension added to it and this is to motivate the people in the communities to observe the regulations set up by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health as attempts in combating this pandemic,” said the Mayor.
The event was held at the Council Chambers and was scaled down due to Covid-19 restrictions. Nkambule pointed out that scaling down of the event is Council’s way of complying to Covid-19 restrictions.
“Previously this event had been celebrated in our numbers with each person present and not just only the Team Leaders. This is walking the talk, observing the Covid-19 regulations and not convening meetings of large numbers of people in enclosed spaces,” said Nkambule.
The Chief Executive Officer Gideon Mhlongo introduces the Mayor.
“Over and above that, you also have a role to support and allay the fears of those who are still hesitant to vaccinate against this disease in order to gain community immunity in each ward. I have checked with Council management and they have assured me that the work you are already doing in relation to Covid-19 is remarkable. I am told that you are still executing your roles as expected regardless of the extreme danger posed by Covid-19. I am also told that you regularly check on Covid-19 patients and motivate them to religiously take their medication and to observe Covid-19 preventive regulations. For that I say a big thank you for being so selfless and patriotic,” said the Mayor.
Nkambule also stated that as much the volunteers play a very critical role in the communities, they still had to know that their safety and health comes first.
“May you all be reminded that your safety comes first before caring for others more especially during this pandemic. Do observe the Covid-19 regulations at all times while caring for your clients. This includes social distancing, always wearing facial masks, hand washing. Practice what you preach at all times and please take your medication as per Doctors orders and if you are suffering from any diseases that suppresses your immunity.
The CEO, Gideon Mhlongo hands over a gift to one of the team leaders of the Mbabane community volunteers.
THE PRESERVATION OF THE OZONE LAYER – 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
MBABANE – Ahead of the World Ozone Day, Council takes the opportunity to unpack important information about the Ozone layer as part of sensitizing readers about the effects of global warming as the world comes face to face with the changes in the global climatic conditions.
What it is the Ozone Layer
The ozone layer is one layer of the stratosphere, the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. The stratosphere is the mass of protective gases clinging to our planet. Ozone layer could be said to be the natural layer of gas in the upper atmosphere that protects humans and other living things from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This layer filters out most of the sun’s harmful UV radiation and is therefore crucial to life on Earth. The theme of World Ozone Day 2021 is “Ozone for Life: 36 Years of Ozone Layer Protection
What are the common causes of depletion to the ozone layer?
The main cause of ozone depletion and the ozone hole is manufactured chemicals, especially manufactured halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and foam- blowing agents (chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs, halons).
The Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion
The depletion of the ozone layer harms the environment, a diminished ozone layer allows more UV radiation to reach the Earth’s surface and the following adverse effects are then observed;
- For people, overexposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts, and weakened immune systems.
- It can alter life cycles of plants and also disrupt food chains.
- The consumption of the ozone layer causes global warming. It is because of global warming that there are severe climatic changes experienced all over the world.
Preventive measures to avoid Ozone Layer Depletion
The following are examples of best preventive measures aimed to curb the universal negative impact of Ozone Layer Depletion:
- Avoid the consumption of gases dangerous to the ozone layer, due to their content or manufacturing process. Some of the most dangerous gases are CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), halogenated hydrocarbon, methyl bromide and nitrous oxide.
- Minimize the use of cars. If you use a car to a destination, try to carpool with others to decrease the use of cars in order to pollute less and save.
- Do not use cleaning products that are harmful to the environment and to us. Many cleaning products contain solvents and substances corrosive, but you can replace these dangerous substances with non-toxic products such as vinegar or bicarbonate.
- Buy local products. In this way, you do not only get fresh products but you avoid consuming food that has traveled long distances. As the more distance traveled, the more nitrous oxide is produced due to the medium used to transport that product.
- Maintain air conditioners, as their malfunctions cause CFC to escape into the atmosphere.
- Buy air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment that do not use HCFCs as refrigerant.
- Buy aerosol products that do not use HCFCs or CFCs as propellants.
- Conduct regular inspection and maintenance of air-conditioning and refrigeration appliances to prevent and minimize refrigerant leakage.
- Promote tree planting and backyard gardening within communities.
- Use Environmental-friendly fertilizers e.g., Food waste compost.
- Reduce excessive smoke emission from illegal open burning and vehicle, which causes air pollution.
- Avoid burning plastics and rubber tires.
Council initiatives to help preserve biodiversity
The following listed are Council’s initiatives to help preserve the Ozone Layer and ensure meaningful actions to protect the environment in line with global expectations;
- Designate litter wardens for the city to reprimand perpetuators of illegal opening burning and illegal dumping around the city which may contribute to global warming effects
- Tree planting in communities, parks, schools and open spaces e.g., indigenous trees
- Setting up recycling facilities in communities, academic institutions, corporate businesses to ensure best waste management practices other than landfilling which the accumulation of waste contribute to global warming
- Awareness raising in communities to capacitate them on the eradication and control of Alien Invasive Plants which contribute to the effects of global warming which lead to Ozone depletion
Clearing of invasive species that contribute to global warming
A Model of Established Corporate Waste Drop off Point
Global initiatives to preserve the depletion of the Ozone Layer
To halt the depletion of the ozone layer, countries around the world have signed the following agreements;
- The Vienna Convention in 1985 which is an agreement by member states to stop using ozone depleting substances.
- The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987
Conclusion
With all said, we Council hereby urges every stakeholder to take all necessary precautions to ensure that our planet earth, especially the Ozone Layer is preserved to prolong life and ensure sustainability within our communities.
