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Rise in Noncommunicable Diseases Linked to Air Pollution - Report

Air pollution is the second leading cause of deaths from noncommunicable diseases, after tobacco-smoking, according to the World Health Organisation. In 2018, the third United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs recognized household and outdoor air pollution as a risk factor for NCDs, alongside unhealthy diets, tobacco-smoking, harmful use of alcohol and physical inactivity. In Uganda, even though air pollution is a big challenge in parts of the country, there is hardly any air quality monitoring. Engineer Bainomugisha - along with other scientists at AirQo, Makerere University - has developed a machine that monitors air quality. He explains that generally the main drivers of air pollution in Kampala are transport, industry, burning of wood or charcoal and burning of waste as more than 90% of households in Kampala rely on charcoal and firewood as an energy source for cooking. And because there's poor solid waste disposal, another key contributor of air pollution is the open burning of garbage.

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