Clean Energy for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease through Clean Air in Africa
NIHR Global Health Research Unit on CLEAN-Air(Africa)
About CLEAN-Air(Africa)
Household Air Pollution; The Killer in the Kitchen
Globally 3 billion people rely on polluting solid fuels (wood, charcoal) or kerosene for cooking and heating their homes. Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from burning these fuels is associated with an increased risk of pneumonia in children under 5 years, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in adults and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
In sub-Saharan Africa, where a substantial proportion of people rely on these fuels, HAP is responsible for more than 680,000 premature deaths each year, greater mortality than for both malaria and HIV/AIDs.
To address this major public health issue, CLEAN-Air(Africa) aims to:
- Inform national policies to scale access to and adoption of clean household energy,
- Demonstrate the positive impacts on health and climate from populations switching to clean household fuels and,
- Strengthen health systems to empower community led prevention to fight against household air pollution.
CLEAN-Air(Africa) Unit Partnership
CLEAN-Air(Africa) is a partnership of experts from academic, research, and clinical institutions from the UK, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda
News and Events
Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning in African homes
Each year in sub-Saharan Africa more than 6000 deaths are recorded from carbon monoxide poisoning from use of charcoal for cooking and heating. In fact many deaths from CO go unreported and the burden is likely much greater.
University expands initiative to empower the Kenyan population to address air pollution
The University of Liverpool has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government stakeholders in Kenya to coincide with the launch of a new initiative to address the burden of disease from household air pollution (HAP). This will provide more than 16,000 community groups direct access to life saving information about preventing exposure to HAP.
CLEAN-Air(Africa) Postdoctoral Research Associate (Grade 7) / Research Fellow (Grade 8)
The CLEAN-Air(Africa) Unit is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate (Grade 7) / Research Fellow (Grade 8) for employment at University of Liverpool.
New partnership announced to scale clean cooking in east african schools for health, the environment and climate
The University of Liverpool and the Kenya Medical Research Institute
(KEMRI) have officially partnered with Equity Group Foundation to evaluate the health impacts of
transitioning Schools from reliance on wood fuel to clean cooking with Liquefied Petroleum (LPG) Gas
under the Equity’s “Clean Cooking Initiative”.
Measuring household air pollution exposure in sub-Saharan Africa
Researchers from the University of Liverpool, dedicated to addressing the issue of household air pollution (HAP) in sub-Saharan Africa, have released new data to better understand the problem.
New health evidence from our group advocates for clean fuels in African homes and schools
University of Liverpool researchers have conducted the first comprehensive analysis of the substantial health gain that can be realised when switching African homes from polluting fuels to clean fuels such as bottled gas (Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG).
Pivotal ministerial engagement event led by CLEAN-Air(Africa) in Uganda
CLEAN-Air(Africa) hosted a pivotal stakeholder meeting in Kampala contributing to Uganda’s national integrated clean cooking program, led by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
Senior Staff from the University of Liverpool visit the CLEAN-Air(Africa) Air Pollution Centre of Excellence in Nairobi
A delegation from the University of Liverpool’s senior leadership team visited partners in Kenya to build collaborative relationships with partners including the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), to seek out new opportunities for collaborative research and teaching as part of Liverpool’s new Strategy 2031.
CLEAN-Air(Africa) Air Pollution Centre of Excellence announced at COP28 by the Kenyan Ministry of Health
Through data-driven action, the Air Pollution Centre of Excellence based at KEMRI will contribute to the fight against air pollution, with an evidence-based approach.
CLEAN-Air(Africa) joins World Health Organization’s summit on ‘Combatting Household Air Pollution in Kenya: A Path to Cleaner, Healthier Lives’
The CLEAN-Air(Africa) team, consisting of Professors Daniel Pope and Nigel Bruce from the University of Liverpool and Dr. James Mwitari from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), actively participated in a two-day workshop on household air pollution and high-level commitment for action in Kenya.
CLEAN-Air(Africa) marks the completion of its lung function study collecting spirometry data of rural women in Cameroon
CLEAN-Air(Africa) completes lung function study in Cameroon, examining the impact of cooking fuel choices on respiratory health in rural women.
PhD Scholarship in Public Health Offered by CLEAN-Air(Africa) in Cameroon
Are you ready to revolutionize public health in Africa? Clean-Air(Africa) invites you to apply for a fully funded 3-year PhD scholarship in Cameroon. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge research at Douala General Hospital and contribute to our mission of achieving clean air and improved cardiovascular health in sub-Saharan Africa.
CLEAN-Air(Africa) wins the "Research Impact of the Year Award' by the University of Liverpool
The CLEAN-Air(Africa) team was honoured on July 11, 2023, for their outstanding collaboration with the Kenyan Ministry of Health in advancing a national strategy to combat Household Air Pollution, which aims to improve the well-being of communities.
Kenyan Government Strategy Meeting Held to Address Household Air Pollution Through Community Health Promotion
On April 26-27th, CLEAN-Air(Africa) hosted a joint strategic workshop involving the Kenyan Ministry of Health (Environment and Community Health), the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, KEMRI, the University of Liverpool and other key Kenyan partners from the air pollution and clean cooking sector.
CLEAN-Air(Africa) signs agreement with First Lady of Kenya’s office to help improve lives of millions
The Kenya Medical Research Institute and the University of Liverpool (Directing institutions of the NIHR CLEAN-Air(Africa) Unit), and the Mama Doing Good Foundation (an initiative of the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya) have signed a 5-year partnership to collaborate on clean air and clean cooking.
The role of innovative cookware in supporting uptake of LPG in low-income households
The results of a study conducted by CLEAN-Air (Africa) investigating the impact of use of energy-efficient cookware on LPG adoption has been published in Energy for Sustainable Development.
New Clean Energy Research Initiative for CLEAN-Air(Africa) Launched at KEMRI (Photos)
The official launch of a new sub-Saharan African collaboration led by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) will help scale adoption of clean energy to reduce respiratory and cardiovascular disease from exposure household air pollution, responsible for 634,000 preventable deaths each year in the region.
New Initiative for CLEAN-Air(Africa) Launched at KEMRI
CLEAN-Air(Africa) Initiative, a collaborative initiative between KEMRI and University of Liverpool and funded by UK National Institute for Health (NIRH), was officially launched yesterday by KEMRI Director General Prof Sam Kariuki at KEMRI Training Centre, Nairobi.
New policy brief released to return Kenya’s VAT on LPG to zero-rating
n July 2021 the Kenyan government imposed VAT at 16% on domestic use of LPG. New research conducted by CLEAN-Air(Africa) partners, University of Liverpool and Moi University, and University College London has highlighted the negative impacts of associated price increases on the fuel on Kenya’s clean cooking agenda.
Raising population awareness on health impacts from exposure to household air pollution
In sub-Saharan Africa, raising population awareness on the health impacts from exposure to household air pollution and prevention through clean cooking, heating and lighting is essential in the drive to scale transition to clean modern energy.
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