Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Blessing Mberu
Afrique: Les villes africaines sont confrontées à de nombreux défis - Comment les rendre plus saines
Un nouveau livre intitulé Urban Health in Africa examine la manière dont l'urbanisation rapide à travers le continent influence la santé publique et le bien-être. S'appuyant sur diverses recherches et études de cas, cet ouvrage redéfinit les villes africaines non seulement comme des lieux de défis, mais aussi comme des lieux d'innovation, de résilience et d'opportunités.
Les villes africaines sont confrontées à de nombreux défis : comment les rendre plus saines
Un nouveau livre intitulé Urban Health in Africa examine la manière dont l'urbanisation rapide à travers le continent influence la santé publique et le bien-être. S'appuyant sur diverses recherches et études de cas, cet ouvrage redéfinit les villes africaines non seulement comme des lieux de défis, mais aussi comme des lieux d'innovation, de résilience et d'opportunités.
African Cities Are Diverse and Thriving, but Face Many Challenges. How to Make Them Healthier
analysis A new book called Urban Health in Africa explores how rapid urbanisation across the continent shapes public health and wellbeing. Drawing on diverse research and case studies, the book reframes African cities not just as sites of challenge, but as places of innovation, resilience and opportunity.
African cities are diverse and thriving, but face many challenges. How to make them healthier
A new book called Urban Health in Africa explores how rapid urbanisation across the continent shapes public health and wellbeing. Drawing on diverse research and case studies, the book reframes African cities not just as sites of challenge, but as places of innovation, resilience and opportunity.
African cities are diverse and thriving, but face many challenges. How to make them healthier
A new book called Urban Health in Africa explores how rapid urbanisation across the continent shapes public health and wellbeing. Drawing on diverse research and case studies, the book reframes African cities not just as sites of challenge, but as places of innovation, resilience and opportunity.
How informal water markets serve the urban population: Dynamics of invisible hand in Nairobi’s water sector
Citation: Chumo I, Mberu B, Kabaria C (2025) How informal water markets serve the urban population: Dynamics of invisible hand in Nairobi’s water sector. PLOS Water 4(6): e0000379. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000379 Editor: Abraham Matamanda, University of the Free State, SOUTH AFRICA Received: November 11, 2024; Accepted: April 24, 2025; Published: June 6, 2025 Copyright: © 2025 Chumo et al.
Sanitation services for the urban poor A social capital approach to sanitation challenges in informal settlements
Sanitation services for the urban poor A social capital approach to sanitation challenges in informal settlements
The Value of Community Capitals in Sustainable Urban Development: A Qualitative Exploration of Urban Informal Workers
1. Introduction Urban informality is commonly seen as a “threat” to progress, ascribed to the urban poor who live and work in informal settlements [1,2]. However, what is really failing residents in informal settlements is an underlying multiplicity of “formal” workers, actors, institutions, legal frameworks, and markets that are not able to respond, absorb, or adjust to this reality [3,4].
Landscape analysis of the Kenyan policy on the treatment and prevention of diarrheal disease among under-5 children
Cookies and privacy We and our 90 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.Cookie policy Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
a study in six African countries shows how healthy housing saves children's lives
Housing is a critical social determinant of health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines healthy housing as a shelter that supports physical, mental and social wellbeing. The WHO has developed guidelines outlining the attributes of healthy housing. These include structural soundness, as well as access to a local community that enables social interactions. Healthy housing protects inhabitants from the effects of disasters, pollution, waste and extreme heat or cold.
SOCIAL MAPPING IN KOROGOCHO AND VIWANDANI, NAIROBI, KENYA: A Brief
MONTSERRAT / EXTRA BOLD Montserrat / Light ARISE ARISE ARISE Accountability in Urban Health ARISEARISE Accountability in Urban HealthARISE Accountability in Urban HealthARISE SOCIAL MAPPING IN KOROGOCHO AND VIWANDANI, NAIROBI MAPPING THE SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE TERRAIN IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS INTRODUCTION More than half of humanity currently lives in urban areas, and 90% of the global population is projected to be urban by 2050.
Unmet Needs and Resilience: The Case of Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations in Nairobi’s Informal Settlements
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon. Open AccessArticle by Ivy Chumo 1,*, Caroline Kabaria 1, Alex Shankland 2 and Blessing Mberu 1 1 African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), APHRC Campus, Kitisuru, Nairobi P.O. Box 10787-00100, Kenya 2 Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Brighton BN1 9RE, UK * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cities & Health
Access Rights Only articles that you have access rights to view will be downloaded. The green tick and orange padlock icons indicates that you have full access.
Slum Health: Arresting COVID-19 and Improving Well-Being in Urban Informal Settlements
Abstract The informal settlements of the Global South are the least prepared for the pandemic of COVID-19 since basic needs such as water, toilets, sewers, drainage, waste collection, and secure and adequate housing are already in short supply or non-existent. Further, space constraints, violence, and overcrowding in slums make physical distancing and self-quarantine impractical, and the rapid spread of an infection highly likely.
Nigeria: Multiple Forms of Mobility in Africa's Demographic Giant
As Africa's most populous country, Nigeria, with an estimated population of 150 million and over 250 ethnic groups, deals with a range of migration issues, from massive internal and regional migration to brain drain and a large, well-educated diaspora in the West (mainly the United States and the United Kingdom) that it sees as key to future development.
CONSULTANCY: MATERNAL, NEWBORN AND CHILD HEALTH CONTEXT AND POLICY MAPPING IN MOZAMBIQUE FOR THE IMCHA PROGRAM - APHRC
African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a leading Africa-based, African-led, international research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and engaged in multidisciplinary, policy-relevant research. APHRC actively engages policymakers and other key stakeholders to help ensure decision-making across the continent is informed by rigorous evidence-based research.
Vacancy: Research Assistant Policy - APHRC
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is an international non-profit, nongovernmental organization committed to conducting high quality and policy relevant research on population, health, education and development issues facing sub Saharan Africa. APHRC seeks to fill the position of a Research Assistant in the Policy Engagement and Communication Division.
A review and framework for understanding the potential impact of poor solid waste management on health in developing countries
The impact of solid waste on health is varied and may depend on numerous factors including the nature of the waste, duration of exposure, the population exposed, and availability of prevention and mitigation interventions [13, 15, 44]. The impacts may range from mild psychological effects to severe morbidity, disability or death.
Kenya: It Will Take More Than Good Intentions to Clear Nairobi's Garbage Mountains
analysis By Blessing Mberu, African Population and Health Research Center and Dickson AmugsiNairobi's new governor, Mike Sonko, has promised to rid Nairobi of its mountains of trash. The city, which is home to an estimated 3.9 million people, generates between 3,000 and 3,200 tons of solid waste daily. But only half is collected.
It will take more than good intentions to clear Nairobi's garbage mountains
Nairobi’s new governor, Mike Sonko, has promised to rid Nairobi of its mountains of trash. The city, which is home to an estimated 3.9 million people, generates between 3,000 and 3,200 tons of solid waste daily. But only half is collected. And only about 25% of waste generated reaches the main dumpsite at Dandora east of the Kenyan capital where the evidence points to severe effects on the health of nearby communities.
It will take more than good intentions to clear Nairobi's garbage mountains
And only about 25% of waste generated reaches the main dumpsite at Dandora east of the Kenyan capital where the evidence points to severe effects on the health of nearby communities. The remainder, about 2,250 tons, is illegally disposed of at undesignated locations such as roadsides, rivers and any open spaces. Piles of uncollected garbage are a common sight across the city.
Kenya: Invisible and Ignored - Air Pollution Inside the Homes of Nairobi's Residents
analysis By Blessing MberuAir pollution is a visible problem in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The city's poor air quality is evident in its congested streets where passenger vehicles, trucks and motorcycle taxis jostle for space while belching clouds of black smoke. Nairobi's construction boom and practices like the burning of garbage only add to the levels of outdoor air pollutants.
air pollution inside the homes of Nairobi's residents
Air pollution is a visible problem in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The city’s poor air quality is evident in its congested streets where passenger vehicles, trucks and motorcycle taxis jostle for space while belching clouds of black smoke. Nairobi’s construction boom and practices like the burning of garbage only add to the levels of outdoor air pollutants.
Kenya: Ensuring Safer Pregnancies for Kenyan Women in Urban Slums
analysis By Blessing Mberu, African Population and Health Research Center, Kanyiva Muindi, Mcgill University and Patricia ElungataGlobally, there's a general decline in the number of women who die from pregnancy or childbirth complications. However in Kenya, it remains high at 488 deaths per 100,000 live births. Maternal mortality is a health indicator of the wide gaps between rich and poor, urban and rural areas within countries.
Ensuring safer pregnancies for Kenyan women in urban slums
Globally, there’s a general decline in the number of women who die from pregnancy or childbirth complications. However in Kenya, it remains high at 488 deaths per 100,000 live births. Maternal mortality is a health indicator of the wide gaps between rich and poor, urban and rural areas within countries. The lack of appropriate maternal health services and an almost near absence of public health facilities within the slums has led to the reliance on for profit health facilities.
Slum health is not urban health
We live in an urban century. Already more than 50% of the global population lives in urban areas. The United Nations estimates that by 2030 five billion of the world’s population of eight billion will be urban. Most of the growth in urban areas is expected to occur in the developing countries of Africa and Asia, continuing a trend seen in the past decade. Rapid urbanisation in developing countries has been characterised by an accompanying proliferation of slum areas.
Slum health is not urban health: why we must distinguish between the two
We live in an urban century. Already more than 50% of the global population lives in urban areas. The United Nations estimates that by 2030 five billion of the world’s population of eight billion will be urban. Most of the growth in urban areas is expected to occur in the developing countries of Africa and Asia, continuing a trend seen in the past decade. Rapid urbanisation in developing countries has been characterised by an accompanying proliferation of slum areas.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Blessing
Contact Blessing, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack