Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have been awarded £2 million to study how to improve asthma in African children. 

The investment from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is part of its Global Health Research Program and will fund the three-year project ‘Achieving Control of Asthma in Children In Africa’ (ACACIA) taking place in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Previously, asthma in African children was not thought to be a major health issue. But more African children are developing the long-term disease as they move to urban areas. Recent surveys in schools found that over 20% of South African children aged 13 to 14 have ongoing asthma symptoms. But to date, there has been a lack of evidence to tackle the issue.

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