Children in HCMC learn about the impacts of pollution

Children in HCMC learn about the impacts of pollution

Thirteen Air Quality Monitors (AQM) have been installed at local schools and social organisations across Ho Chi Minh City, in an effort to raise awareness of the increasing levels of air pollution.

According to a report about air pollution and child health published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2018, Ho Chi Minh City’s air pollution has reached a level that is posing serious threats to the environment and people’s health, with an increase in cases of asthma, tuberculosis, pneumonia and cancer.

The air quality project was initiated last year by the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, and implemented and executed by RMIT University in coordination with UNICEF Vietnam, Saigon Innovation Hub and Clean Air Asia.

Passionate about sustainability and environmentalism, RMIT Tourism and Hospitality Management and AQM project team member Lecturer Nguyen Huu Nhan said the aim of the installations was to build greater awareness of the issue in local communities.

“In order to solve a problem and change social behaviours, we have to make them believe that the problem is real,” Mr Nhan said.

Passionate about sustainability and environmentalism, RMIT Tourism and Hospitality Management Lecturer Nguyen Huu Nhan said the installation of the air quality monitors in Ho Chi Minh City is already having a positive impact. Passionate about sustainability and environmentalism, RMIT Tourism and Hospitality Management Lecturer Nguyen Huu Nhan said the installation of the air quality monitors in Ho Chi Minh City is already having a positive impact.

The RMIT project team worked closely with local schools and social groups to install 13 AQMs across eight districts to teach children more about the air that they breathe.

“Children were chosen as the primary target audience because air pollution impacts them as they are growing up and causes life-long health issues,” Mr Nhan explained. “By setting up the monitors at schools, awareness also improves for teachers and parents.”

According to Mr Nhan, the positive impact of the installations was already emerging. Since installing an AQM at Thanh Da Secondary School, students have become more willing and proactive in environmental movements including sorting rubbish, reducing waste, planting trees and wearing face masks to assist with air filtering.

Children and adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City are passively exposed to alarming levels of air pollution travelling to and from school daily. Children and adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City are passively exposed to alarming levels of air pollution travelling to and from school daily.

With the 13 new installations, the number of operating AQMs in Ho Chi Minh City now totals 18. Users can access to air quality index measured by the AQMs on AirVisual mobile application. The data collected from the AQMs is expected to become a useful source for policymakers, government, industry and schools to revise the traffic and infrastructure system and waste disposal, and consider other environmental solutions.

Story: Cindy Tran

18 February 2020

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