Clean air campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Southampton in recognition of her work to improve air quality following the
death of her daughter, Ella.
The honorary Doctor of Science degree was awarded during the university's graduation ceremony at the O2 Guildhall Southampton on 16 July. It was nominated by Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, a respiratory medicine specialist who worked with Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah during the campaign for a second inquest into Ella's death.
Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah founded the Ella Roberta Foundation after Ella died from an asthma attack in 2013 at the age of nine.
She spent seven years campaigning for a fresh inquest into the case. In 2020, the coroner concluded that illegal levels of air pollution near the family's home, close to London's South Circular Road, had made a material contribution to Ella's fatal asthma. The ruling was the first to identify air pollution as a factor in a person's death.
Professor Holgate gave expert medical evidence during the second inquest and has worked with Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah on clean air campaigns for more than a decade.
Speaking after receiving the award, Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah said the honour recognised years of work to raise awareness of the health risks posed by air pollution.
"I have made it my life's work to prevent other children from suffering the way that my daughter Ella did," she said. "I hope to continue to raise awareness about the dangers of air pollution and honour Ella's legacy by saving lives."
She added that recent periods of high temperatures highlighted the impact of air pollution on public health and said more action was needed to reduce harmful emissions.
Professor Holgate described Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah as "one of the world's most powerful advocates" for clean air, saying she had transformed personal tragedy into a campaign that had influenced public health policy and awareness.
The University of Southampton said its new Institute for Medical Innovation would bring together researchers in medicine, engineering and computer science to develop new approaches to tackling major health challenges, including respiratory disease.
This version follows a BBC-style news structure with the main development first, background later, restrained language, and only the most newsworthy quotes. Photo: Professor Sir Stephen Holgate and Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE. Credit: University of Southampton
