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Network Updates / Yaounde City / 2025-08-07

The air we breathe isn’t safe:
Bold children and youth advocates fight for the right to breathe clean air

Yaounde the political capital becomes the first Cameroonian city to join the BREATHELIFE Network, bringing together the public, patients, children, youths, families, health professonals, journalists, policymakers and more to tackle air pollution impact on health. Advocacy efforts resulting to interministerial government committing to elaborate a National Communication Strategy to raise awareness on the health impacts of air pollution.

Yaounde City
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By Achiri Elvis Ndikum

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Despite increasing levels of pollution and the immense challenges that surround bringing clean air to everyone in within rapid population growth, industrialisation and urbanization Cameroon major cities such as Yaounde and similar worldwide, Yaounde ha s kept up momentum to meet the moment, and turn challenges into opportunities. The right to breathe healthy air is a fundamental human right that should have no national or city limits. The time has come for  a National Communication Strategy to raise awareness on the health impact of air pollution on the public especially vulnerable groups.

BACKGROUND

Identifying the urgent need for evidence by our city stimulated action for policy change that has been useful to sustain the momentum for clean air action in Yaounde city. The successful collection of first global data on self-reported prevalence of asthma in relation to environmental risk factors including air pollution between 2018-2019 within 49 primary and secondary schools in Yaounde city revealed that asthma is 3.6%(n=2,648) respondents, with 1.8%, 5.3% and 3.0% in children, adolescents and adults, respectively. Air pollution and disease stigma was identified as significant barriers to achieving asthma control in Cameroon. Published in the Global Asthma Report (2022) and a follow-up story telling published in the Global Asthma Report 2025.

MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS

Leveraging existing evidence our city joined the Freedom to Breathe campaign in 2022 with school children calling for their right to breathe clean air. Using evidence from this study to train students and led production of the freedom to breathe video by the Association for the Promotion of Youth Leadership, Advocacy and Volunteerism Cameroon (APYLAV) thanks to funding from the Global Action Plan, UK. Over 27000 children globally raised their voices for clean air to be finally adopted as a human right within the United Nations Convention (UNCRC) on the Rights of the Child in 2023.

“I refuse to let air pollution and asthma disability control my life. I will keep fighting for clean air for everyone,”
Lisa Nahgon, Freedom to Breathe Ambassador APYLAV Cameroon at the recent Global Climate and Health Summit London, 2025. She is an asthma patient from Yaounde, Cameroon.

In May, 2025, the Minister of Communication took a bold step, acknowledging the urgency of this problem driving the climate crisis. “In addressing the growing concern of air pollution and the serious health threats posed on human survival, a National Communication campaign from the ministry and its media partners are underway, to raise awareness, educate the public on air pollution and health risks, and empower citizens to take proactive measures to reduce their exposure,” said Cameroon Minister of Communication His Excellency Mr. René Emmanuel Sadi.

youth representatives at the Global climate and health summitOne major milestone following this landmark study was the organization of the first ever United Nations International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 7th September, in 2022 and 2023 respectively. These events were the first ever in Yaounde city and Cameroon hosted by the Ministry of Public Health Centre Regional Delegation in collaboration with the Association for the Promotion of Youth Leadership, Advocacy and Volunteerism Cameroon (APYLAV) thanks to funding from the European Lung Foundation.

These events were marked by a train the trainer of over 500 school students and their 1500 school mates and family members, the presentation of the Global Asthma Report 2022 to diverse stakeholders, students presenting their lived experiences with asthma and best projects being awarded with clean energy solutions.

CHALLENGES

Journalist training in Yaounde, Cameroon
Limited access to funding for clean air action has not been our only challenge but also barriers to communicate the burden of air pollution on health to the public. Reason, in February 2025, we organized the first National Journalist’s Training on the health impacts of air pollution. This training under the patronage of the Minister of Communication brought 15 journalists from public and private media representing 10 regions. This training was hosted by the Association for the Promotion of Youth Leadership, Advocacy and Volunteerism Cameroon (APYLAV) and funded by the Clean Air Fund.

Outcomes being recommendations that have been endorsed by the Minister of Communication committing to launch a media campaign on the health impacts of air pollution and broader climate change. The Minister of Communication wrote a letter to the Minister of Public Health expressing his support to the training recommendations. The Minister of Public Health responded positively with a letter to the Minister of Communication on 9th July, 2025 committing to draft a National Communications Strategy on the Health impact of air pollution.

TARGETS

Air quality monitoring device Installed at Franky Comprehensive Secondary SchoolOur city is leading bold action for air quality monitoring following the successful Emerging Leaders for Clean Air Forum side event at the World Health Organization Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health aiming to half mortality from air pollution by 2040. Our city has launched the Schools4Earth Programme thanks to collaboration between IQAir the largest air quality monitoring company and the Global Youth Strategy on Air Pollution and Climate Health. Our first outdoor air quality station is now public at our partner school Franky Comprehensive Secondary School. We will install 5 more monitors in 5 different schools and one at the Ministry of Public Health to mark the 6th UN International Day of Clean air for blue skies and become a leader in the Country with 7 outdoor air quality monitors that will raise the ambition to improve air quality, energy access and health. Aiming to install more than 200 air quality monitors in the city with over 10 000 followers and users by 2040.

Last month we welcomed a historic bold step for clean air action. “I am honoured to inform you that your ministerial department will be invited to contribute at the opportune moment to elaborate the National Communication Strategy on the impact of air pollution on health,”
–His Excellency Dr. Manaouda Malachi Cameroon Minister of Public Health, to the Minister of Communication.

Air pollution and climate change is a health crisis, and the time to act is now. Please end the silence!!

Additional resources:

 

Article submitted by Achiri Elvis Ndikum from Yaounde City, Cameroon

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