OIP HOMEBASED CARE VOLUNTEERS VISITING CLIENTS

Homebased care is an important mechanism for extending continuation of care by providing in the home the basic nursing care and treatment necessary for many of the afflictions that strike PLWHA’s. it also promotes community awareness of HIV/AIDs, provide powerful examples to motivate behavior change, and decrease the stigma attached to the disease. Moreover, it enables PLWHAs to maintain their families and community roles, it is cost effective and it frees hospital beds and medical personnel for the acutely ill, thus relieving the burden on the health care system.

WORLD ENVIROMENT DAY 2024

World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5th, is a powerful reminder of our collective duty to care for the environment. We can all make a positive impact by embracing sustainable practices in our daily lives, conserving resources, and advocating for eco-friendly solutions. Remember, even small steps like planting trees, reducing waste, or supporting renewable energy contribute to a significant change. Let's work together to ensure a thriving future for our planet! United Nations utilizes the occasion to stress on the fact that there is a need to encourage worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.

World Environment Day shines a spotlight on pressing environmental challenges. Each year, a distinct theme is chosen, tackling issues like climate change, global warming, and deforestation. This year, the theme of World Environment Day is - Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. "According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, up to 40 per cent of the planet's land is degraded, directly affecting half of the world's population. The number and duration of droughts has increased by 29 per cent since 2000 - without urgent action, droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world's population by 2050," the United Nations official website wrote.

The seed of World Environment Day was sown in 1972. The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm, Sweden on June 5th, sparked critical discussions on environmental protection. To honor this pivotal moment, the first official World Environment Day was celebrated a year later in 1973, and the tradition has continued on the same date ever since.

World Environment Day raises awareness, mobilizes action, and promotes environmental sustainability. Through campaigns, events, and initiatives, World Environment Day inspires individuals and communities to make changes, fostering a sense of urgency and addressing environmental challenges for a sustainable future.

Oyugis integrated project staffs and shirikisho crafts students took the initiative this year to plant more trees within the compound. It was a quick and enjoyable work. Each participant planted one tree and we ended up planting forty trees within a span of fifteen minutes. Last year we did it and we vowed to do it again this year, we look forward to do more next year. Small steps might produce a tremendous influence in future. We are happy to participate in this noble course.

WHY ARE TREES IMPORTANT TO THE ENVIRONMENT?

Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat to over 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity.

Forests provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people, absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere, and are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines. Have you ever taken an Aspirin? It comes from the bark of a tree!

Here are the six pillars that explain why trees are vital:

 

Trees clean the air

Trees help to clean the air we breathe. Through their leaves and bark, they absorb harmful pollutants and release clean oxygen for us to breathe. In urban environments, trees absorb pollutant gases like nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide, and sweep up particles like dust and smoke. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide caused by deforestation and fossil fuel combustion trap heat in the atmosphere. Healthy, strong trees act as carbon sinks, offset carbon and reducing the effects of climate change.

 

BIODIVERSITY

A single tree can be home to hundreds of species of insect, fungi, moss, mammals, and plants. Depending on the kind of food and shelter they need, different forest animals require different types of habitat. Without trees, forest creatures would have nowhere to call home.

 

Trees help to regulate climate

Trees help cool the planet by sucking in and storing harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into their trunks, branches, and leaves — and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. In cities, trees can reduce ambient temperatures by up to 8° Celsius. With more than 50% of the world’s population living in cities — a number expected to increase to 66% by the year 2050 — pollution and overheating are becoming a real threat. Fortunately, a mature tree can absorb an average of 22lbs of carbon dioxide per year, making cities a healthier, safer place to live.

HEALTH

Did you know that hospital patients with rooms overlooking trees recover faster than those without the same view? It’s impossible to ignore that feeling of elation you get while walking through a calm, quiet forest. Trees help reduce stress and anxiety, and allow us to reconnect with nature. In addition, shade provided by tree coverage helps protect our skin from the ever-increasing harshness of the sun.

 

Trees help reduce stress and anxiety

Trees have a social impact

SOCIAL IMPACT

From arborists to loggers and researchers, the job opportunities provided by the forestry industry are endless. We don’t just rely on trees for work, though. Sustainable tree farming provides timber to build homes and shelters, and wood to burn for cooking and heating. Food-producing trees provide fruit, nuts, berries, and leaves for consumption by both humans and animals, and pack a powerful nutritional punch.

WATER

Trees play a key role in capturing rainwater and reducing the risk of natural disasters like floods and landslides. Their intricate root systems act like filters, removing pollutants and slowing down the water’s absorption into the soil. This process prevents harmful waterslide erosion and reduces the risk of over-saturation and flooding. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Association, a mature evergreen tree can intercept more than 15,000 litres of water every year. 

Br. Michael Mbogo

ref: onetreeplanted.org