Professor Robert Mbiake, a lecturer at the University of Douala with over two decades of experience in air quality research, including dispersion modeling simulations, has been instrumental in bringing practical applications to the forefront since.
In Africa, air pollution has not garnered the attention it deserves, and he says that this lack of interest can be attributed to three key reasons:
- Until recently, air pollution research has been overly theoretical, making it less attractive.
- Lack of air quality data has hindered comprehensive understanding.
- The absence of an effective communication strategy has left both communities and decision-makers uninformed about the implications and necessary actions regarding air quality.
To address this, he has begun setting up of a network comprising 18 sensors distributed across two cities, Douala and Yaoundé. This real-time air quality monitoring network is a first of its kind. In addition to this sensor network, he is committed to developing a comprehensive communication program targeted at journalists, as well as enhancing the knowledge and skills of young students and municipalities. The goal is to ensure that the concept of air quality and the roles of various stakeholders are well-understood.
The broader vision is to secure the support of industries in mitigating air pollution and reducing transportation emissions, thus contributing to the betterment of air quality in Cameroon.
Country Profile (Cameroon): Opportunity Score 13.0 (High): Annual average PM2.5 levels are more than 6 times the WHO Guideline. There is no public PM2.5 data produced by the government, nor is there a national ambient air quality standard for PM2.5.