Harmattan: Plateau uses solar energy to boil water for students

Worried by the effects of the ongoing harmattan, the Plateau State Government on Monday commenced boiling water with solar power for students in its secondary schools with boarding facilities.
David Wuyep, the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos that the initiative was to prevent the students from developing some health issues by using cold water.
He said that the students could easily develop pneumonia and other respiratory related diseases if they were in constant contacts with cold water as a result of the harmattan.
Wuyep said: “As you all know, Plateau is very cold, and students in most boarding secondary schools usually use cold water for bathing, and this act can lead to some health issues such as pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
“In a bid to avert such health issues among the students, we have commenced the use of solar powers to heat water for students in their hostels during this harmattan season.”
The commissioner said that the pilot project commenced in Government Science School, Kuru in Jos South Local government Area of Plateau.
Wuyep said: “The ministry now generates its own power; very clean and eco-friendly. It poses no threat to the ozone layer and it causes no greenhouse effect.”