Rwanda National Police

The Police Month entered its third week this Monday with focus on protecting the environment against pollutants and conducting awareness campaigns to influence behavioral change on protecting nature.

On the first day of the week-long education campaign, Rwanda National Police (RNP) and partners in security and environmental conservation took to highways and Motor-vehicle Inspection Centres (MIC) to test vehicle emissions and to educate motorists on various activities and behaviors that lead to environmental pollution.

Speaking to motorists in Kigali, Commissioner of Police (CP) Rafiki Mujiji, the Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety Department, noted that fuel emissions are one of the major air pollutants.

CP Mujiji explained that though air pollution carries significant risks for human health and the environment, clean car exhaust fumes is one of the remedies.

The toxic air is linked to asthma and chronic chest problems, and damage to the lungs in early ages.

“The MIC services include testing vehicle emissions, and we encourage you to always mind about that. The quality of your automobiles includes ensuring fixing emission, and that contributes greatly in fighting air pollution and climate change,” CP Mujiji said.

He said at about 25 percent of vehicles tested at the motor-vehicle inspection center emit gases, which pose health risks to humans, animals and vegetation.  

The week-long environmental protection activities follows the last two weeks that focused on raising awareness against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; and gender based violence and teenage pregnancy, respectively.

During the course of the third week, focus will be on testing vehicle emissions and delivering messages related to fighting environmental pollution; public awareness in communities living in high risk zones and wetlands to encourage them to relocate to safer zones; and enlightening the public on existing laws and policies on environment including non-biodegradable plastic bags.

It will be climaxed with the closing of the 8th edition of the joint RNP and City of Kigali security and hygiene campaign, which is dedicated to promoting a safer, cleaner and greener city.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), poor air quality is one of the world’s most pressing environmental health threats.

It estimates that today, more than 90% of people globally breath polluted air and approximately seven million people die from air pollution-related causes every year.

Fuel emissions from vehicles rank among the worst air pollutants. Transportation is the largest single source of air pollution globally leading to climate change.

The key greenhouse gases associated with road transport are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).