Public health at risk: Lagos moves to address medical shortage, environmental concerns, rapid urbanization
. . . 30,000 medical doctors necessary to meet its healthcare needs . . .
as Africa contends with the challenges of rapid urbanization and industrialization, air quality management has become a critical public health and environmental concern. With cities expanding at an unprecedented pace and industrial activities intensifying, the continent faces a pivotal moment where sustainable development must be balanced with the imperative of safeguarding air quality.
Across Africa, air pollution levels are rising alarmingly, posing significant health risks to millions of residents. Chief pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone, are increasingly being detected in urban and peri-urban areas. These pollutants, emanating from sources such as vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, open burning of waste, and domestic cooking practices, contribute to a toxic atmospheric cocktail that threatens respiratory health and exacerbates climate change.
By Ejiro Umukoro and Collins Odigie Ojiehanor