By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
New research from Bosch Alumni Network sounds like a caution on climate change’s devastating impact on women’s mental health, revealing alarming consequences for their socio-psychological well-being.
Lead Researcher from Bosch Alumini Roland Padi highlights that fishermen experience low catch as a result of excessive human activity which cause them to travel as far as neighboring countries like Togo for catch.
This often leads to fishermen spending extended periods away, engaging in extramarital relationships, and forming new families, leaving their wives and children unattended.
The resulting stress, frustration and transfer of aggression by these women causes children in these communities to go wayward.
Bosch’s research conducted a month ago, sampled over 40 fishmongers at Shiabu in the Greater Accra region as a case study for other coastal areas.
The study’s findings were revealed during the launch of the research work by the Bosch Alumni Network in Accra with the theme, “Gender and Climate Change in Indigenous West Africa’.
The project aimed to evaluate the impact of climate change on the livelihood of women living along the coastal belt and their level of involvement in decision-making with respect to their husbands.
The key findings centered on the devastating livelihoods of women, their exclusion from decision-making, the socio-psychological impacts on women, and the lack of inclusion.
The findings recommend an integrated gender consideration into climate policy, ensuring women’s participation in decision-making processes, establishing support systems for affected women, and promoting climate education and awareness amongst others.
The study was equally conducted by the group’s alumni in Cameroon,
Project psychologist Silvia Hagan emphasized the need for comprehensive climate change education and psychological support, as affected women cannot afford these services.
Emmeryn Leuzzi, West Africa Regional Coordinator for Bosch Alumni Network, called for drastic measures to address climate change’s impact.
Bosch Alumni Network, a cooperation between IAC Berlin and Robert Bosch Stiftung, brings together fellows and alumni from over 140 countries to tackle social and sustainable issues like climate change, climate justice, cultural innovation, education, business, and digital clusters.
Since 2017, their initiatives have positively impacted over a million people.
Source: Kasapaonline.com
