A new report by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) has exposed the alarming impact of air pollution in East Africa, identifying it as the second leading cause of death in the region. In 2021 alone, toxic air claimed an estimated 294,000 lives across eight countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The report, Health Effects of Air Pollution in East Africa: Current Evidence and Priorities for Future Action, highlights how children, pregnant women, and low-income communities bear the brunt of air pollution exposure. Fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 tiny particles that penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream are linked to severe health problems including respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and pregnancy complications.
Children are particularly vulnerable, with household air pollution mainly from burning solid fuels like charcoal and firewood contributing to 30% of newborn deaths in the region. In urban areas, worsening air quality is linked to increased respiratory infections and child mortality. Kampala, Uganda, tops the list with a PM2.5 concentration of 49.4 μg/m³, nearly ten times the WHO’s recommended safe limit of 5 μg/m³.
According to Consulting Research Fellow Victor Nthusi, while cleaner cooking technologies offer hope, their adoption is hindered by affordability and sustainability challenges. He notes that East Africa has a higher proportion of PM2.5 pollution from household sources than other parts of the continent.
Nthusi also points to significant gaps in air quality monitoring. With only 0.03 monitors per million people, compared to 3 per million in high-income nations, the region struggles with limited data to inform policy. He urges the use of low-cost sensors and satellite technology to bridge the gap.
Despite some nations like Kenya and Rwanda implementing national air quality standards, enforcement remains weak, and others lack any formal regulation.
Experts call for urgent policy action, regional cooperation, and investment in clean energy solutions to address this silent killer. With deaths from air pollution rising, the time for decisive, coordinated efforts to protect public health is now.
