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
CLEAN-Air(Africa) Case Studies
The work of CLEAN-Air(Africa) has been widely disseminated including recently at COP26. Some of the published case studies highlighting the work of CLEAN-Air(Africa) and its impact can be accessed below. This work forms the foundation of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on CLEAN-Air(Africa).
UK NIHR
How CLEAN-Air(Africa) is tackling the hidden killer of household air pollution (Nov 2021)
University of Liverpool
Tackling the silent killer in the kitchen: household air pollution (Oct 2021)
UK NIHR
New research could help boost growth of clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa (Nov 2021)
WHO
Making clean cooking affordable and accessible during COVID-19: pay-as-you-go smart meters promote health equity, Nairobi
NIHR Case Study
The NIHR have produced a video showcasing the work of CLEAN-Air(Africa). The video highlights two key initiatives; helping resource poor communities access Liquefied Petroleum Gas for clean cooking through smart meter technology and empowering community health workforces to prevent household air pollution related disease.
CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit Fact Sheet
2.4 billion people rely on polluting solid fuels and kerosene for household energy.
The NIHR CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit will accelerate the understanding of air pollution related disease burden through a unique set of studies that will strengthen national health systems for community health prevention of HAP related disease and provide evidence-based recommendations for population transition to clean household and institutional energy.
The KEMRI-University of Liverpool Air Pollution Centre of Excellence
The NIHR CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit is proud to announce the establishment of the KEMRI-University of Liverpool Air Pollution Centre of Excellence housed at KEMRI’s Centre for Respiratory Disease Research in Nairobi, Kenya.
With funding from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research and KEMRI, the KEMRI-University of Liverpool Air Pollution Centre of Excellence includes a state-of-the-art air quality measurement and processing laboratory including Africa’s first MTLAH500E Robotic Weighing System for gravimetric mass measurements of particulate matter (PM). PM is recognised as the biggest contributor to the burden of disease from air pollution exposure.
The KEMRI-University of Liverpool Air Pollution Centre of Excellence will also be able to measure and process a range of other health-damaging and climate pollutants including carbon monoxide (CO), black carbon (BC), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydocarbons.
Please download the flyer for more information about the Centre and services offered.
News and Events
CLEAN-Air(Africa) marks the completion of its lung function study collecting spirometry data of rural women in Cameroon
PhD Scholarship in Public Health Offered by CLEAN-Air(Africa) in Cameroon
CLEAN-Air(Africa) wins the "Research Impact of the Year Award' by the University of Liverpool
Kenyan Government Strategy Meeting Held to Address Household Air Pollution Through Community Health Promotion
CLEAN-Air(Africa) signs agreement with First Lady of Kenya’s office to help improve lives of millions
