By Lenah Bosibori
Mama Lucy Hospital in Nairobi has installed two advanced air quality monitors to combat the city’s escalating air pollution crisis. These state-of-the-art devices will track hazardous pollutants, including black carbon and particulate matter (PM 2.5), which can infiltrate the lungs and bloodstream, heightening the risk of respiratory diseases.
During the launch on Friday, Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, underscored the importance of the initiative.
“Nairobi is a rapidly growing city with vast economic opportunities, but air pollution remains one of our most pressing environmental challenges,” said Ng’eno. “These monitors will provide accurate data, helping us pinpoint pollution hotspots and take action to curb harmful emissions.”
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that in 2019, ambient air pollution caused nearly 400,000 premature deaths in Africa, while indoor air pollution claimed over one million lives. These monitors will also help address the root causes of the rising cases of upper respiratory infections and respiratory-related cancers in Nairobi.
Health Concerns at Mama Lucy Hospital
Dr. Martin Wafula, CEO of Mama Lucy Hospital, highlighted how the monitors will revolutionize how the hospital tackles respiratory issues. “We treat many patients with breathing difficulties, but until now, we haven’t been able to address the root causes. These monitors will allow us to track where patients are coming from and implement community-based interventions to combat pollution-related health problems,” he explained.
He noted that 60% of the hospital’s patients suffer from breathing issues, and 80% of children are affected by upper respiratory infections. The hospital has also observed a rise in respiratory cancers and premature births, with Dr. Wafula linking these cases to poor air quality in densely populated areas, especially near dumpsites.
“On average, we deliver around 70 mothers daily, with at least 20 being premature births. We’ve noticed that mothers exposed to poor air quality are more likely to give birth prematurely,” said Wafula. The air monitors will help correlate these health problems with specific pollutants, allowing for targeted interventions.
Dr. Wafula added that the hospital handles an average of 3,000 patients per day, with 60% presenting breathing issues. “80% of the children we treat have upper respiratory distress,” he noted.
Rising Pollution in Nairobi
Dr. George Mwaniki from the World Resources Institute (WRI) Africa shared that air quality in Nairobi has significantly worsened over the years, with pollution levels now four times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommendations. “These monitors will help us identify the main sources of pollution and guide public health responses,” he said.
Why Mama Lucy Hospital?
Mama Lucy Hospital was selected for this initiative because it serves Nairobi’s lower-income population, who are disproportionately affected by respiratory illnesses. Additionally, it is one of the few public hospitals in the city with a certified incinerator for medical waste, making it an ideal location for air quality monitoring.
“The hospital manages a high volume of respiratory cases, particularly among children and pregnant women, which makes it a crucial site for monitoring air quality,” said Dr. Mwaniki.
Cutting-Edge Technology
The new equipment includes a PM 2.5 monitor to measure harmful particles in the air, and a five-wavelength black carbon monitor to identify pollution sources such as vehicle emissions and wood burning. The data collected will help authorities link pollution hotspots with rising health concerns and develop targeted community interventions.
“We are particularly concerned about black carbon and PM 2.5 particles, which can enter the lungs without any filtration and pass directly into the bloodstream. These small particles account for around 70% of the health impacts from air pollution,” said Dr. Mwaniki. “The remaining 30% is caused by larger particles and gases.”
Dr. Mwaniki added that the monitors will measure the levels of PM 2.5 and track weather patterns to analyze the sources of these particles. “Some of these particles are composed of dangerous chemicals, and this technology will help us identify what’s driving the respiratory ailments we’re seeing,” he said.
Long-Term Impact
This cutting-edge technology will help trace the environmental origins of respiratory diseases, enabling the hospital to collaborate with public health officials to intervene in affected communities. The initiative is part of a broader effort to improve air quality in Nairobi, with the city set to install 37 additional air quality monitors in the coming months.
The effort aims to enforce air quality regulations and reduce the health impacts of pollution, particularly from vehicle emissions, which contribute 40% of the city’s air pollution.
The launch was made possible through partnerships with organizations including the World Resources Institute, Clean Air Catalyst, USAID, AirQo, the Ministry of Environment, and NEMA, with financial support from USAID totalling KSh 20.4 million ($158,000).