Pauline Ongaji - Big3Africa.org

New report urges governments to prioritise clean air in fight against NCDs

Pauline Ongaji May 21, 2026

A new global report is urging governments to prioritise clean air policies as part of the fight against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), warning that air pollution contributes to nearly eight million deaths annually worldwide. In Kenya, rising cases of asthma, stroke and respiratory illnesses are increasingly linked to traffic emissions, industrial pollution and dirty cooking fuels.

Climate Change

How Climate Stress Is Fueling Kenya’s Diabetes Burden

Pauline Ongaji May 18, 2026

As climate stress, urban poverty, and rising food insecurity reshape life in Kenya’s cities, young people living with diabetes are facing a growing health crisis. For many aging out of donor-supported care programmes, the cost of insulin, limited public healthcare support, and unhealthy urban environments are turning diabetes management into a daily struggle tied not only to health, but also to environmental inequality and climate justice.

Feature

Parenting Type 1 Diabetes Amid Climate and Food Crises

Pauline Ongaji May 15, 2026

Parents raising children with Type 1 diabetes in Kenya are facing growing emotional and financial strain as climate change, food insecurity, and rising healthcare costs make disease management increasingly difficult.

Climate Change

Climate Change and Drug Resistance Threaten Africa’s Hard-Won Gains Against Malaria

Pauline Ongaji May 5, 2026

Climate change and emerging drug resistance are threatening to reverse decades of progress against malaria in Africa, with new infections rising in previously low-risk regions and treatment effectiveness beginning to decline.

Climate Change

Heavy Rains Batter Nairobi as Flood Risk and Road Closures Intensify

Pauline Ongaji April 29, 2026

Heavy rains across Nairobi have triggered widespread flooding, road closures, and rising safety concerns, with authorities warning of a high risk of flash floods as saturated ground accelerates runoff and rivers swell to dangerous levels.

Feature

Africa Faces Growing Lung Disease Crisis from Air Pollution

Pauline Ongaji April 23, 2026

Chronic respiratory diseases are rising rapidly across Africa, driven by air pollution, dirty cooking fuels, and weak emissions standards. Experts warn that without urgent investment in clean energy and stronger healthcare systems, millions more could face life-threatening lung conditions.

Food Systems

The Hidden Cost of What Schools Feed Children

Pauline Ongaji April 17, 2026

Kenya’s school meals are quietly shaping more than children’s diets—they are reinforcing a globalised, ultra-processed food system with rising health and environmental costs. As schools prioritise convenience and affordability, experts warn that what children eat today could define the country’s future in nutrition, sustainability, and climate resilience.

Feature

Understanding Why Heat is Now a Public Health Priority

Pauline Ongaji April 14, 2026

Extreme heat is rapidly emerging as a leading global public health threat, driven by climate change and urbanisation. Experts warn that cities must act urgently, as rising temperatures increasingly worsen chronic illnesses and put vulnerable populations at risk.

Climate Change

Extreme Heat Declared Major Public Health Threat as Cities Act

Pauline Ongaji April 7, 2026

Extreme heat is now officially recognised as a major public health threat, joining risks like air pollution and poor diets. As global temperatures rise, cities—especially in Africa—are stepping up efforts to protect vulnerable populations from growing heat-related illnesses and deaths.

Tech & Energy

Makueni County Signs MoU to Advance Clean Cooking in Public Institutions

Pauline Ongaji April 2, 2026

Makueni County has partnered with CLASP to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking solutions in public institutions, targeting over 4,500 beneficiaries across 63 vocational training centres. The agreement, signed at the Kenyan International Investment Conference, signals growing momentum to unlock a Sh72 billion clean cooking investment opportunity in Kenya’s institutional sector.