On Saturday, 22 February 2026, a conference organized in Kinshasa by the NGO Santequiz brought together scientists, policymakers, and international partners to raise awareness about the impacts of urban pollution on respiratory health. The event also marked the launch of the association’s annual activities and the beginning of its partnership with Medic Assist.
The meeting highlighted a worrying reality: urban pollution in African cities has become a major, largely preventable cause of premature mortality. Professor Jean-Marie Kayembe, Rector of the University of Kinshasa, emphasized that the severity of the issue is compounded by rapid industrialization, chaotic urbanization, and the near-total absence of waste treatment. “The youth are entirely right to take the initiative in raising awareness on this issue,” he said, recalling that the mission of the University extends beyond teaching to include applied research and concrete community action. According to him, scientists must go further than analysis: they must inform, challenge, and mobilize decision-makers to make courageous choices that can reduce the impact of pollution on the population.
Dr. Bienvenu Ileka, coordinator of Santequiz, presented the conference as the first step in an ambitious annual program, made possible through the consolidation of a partnership with Medic Assist. Announced during the event, this collaboration aims to support and strengthen awareness-raising, training, and field support initiatives. “We have identified several policymakers and national institutions; in the coming days, we will officially launch our joint activities with Medic Assist, which comes from Greece,” he explained, highlighting the importance of this international cooperation for enhancing local medical expertise and the reach of environmental initiatives.
Georges Spiliopoulos, Medical Director of Medic Assist, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended to the Greek delegation and mentioned the prospect of creating a bilateral medical association between the DRC and Greece. The day also featured an opportunities fair, promoting exchanges among participants and highlighting potential synergies around urban health and environmental management.
Beyond speeches and partnerships, the conference underscored the human dimension of the environmental emergency: vulnerable urban populations suffer daily from air saturated with pollutants, and every policy decision or scientific initiative can concretely transform their daily lives. According to several participants, such gatherings are essential to maintain pressure on authorities and encourage tangible measures in the fight against pollution.
Thus, Kinshasa once again finds itself at the center of a crucial debate: how can urban development, industrialization, and public health be reconciled? Santequiz’s initiative, supported by international partners, stands out as an example of citizen and scientific mobilization capable of influencing local policies and reminding everyone that residents’ respiratory health is inseparable from the quality of the urban environment.
By Kilalopress