To what extent is air pollution leading to deaths?

Air pollution poses a growing health challenge in East Africa, driven by rapid urbanisation, increased motor vehicle use, industrial activities, and widespread use of solid fuels for cooking.

The pollutants originate from sources such as open burning of waste, diesel exhaust, industrial emissions, and indoor cooking with wood, charcoal, or kerosene.

In many East African cities, air quality monitoring is limited, making it difficult to assess the full scale of exposure and risk.

Exposure to air pollution is linked to a variety of respiratory problems.

Fine particulate matter, in particular, penetrates deep into the lungs and can lead to or worsen conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In children, exposure to polluted air can impair lung development and increase the risk of respiratory infections.