Keeping Ella’s memory and legacy alive
(Last updated: )
by ARNS
We were really privileged to have Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE as one of our keynote speakers at conference this year.
It was a real honour to interview Rosamund and to hear her talk about her daughter Ella.
Ella suffered from severe asthma, she had multiple hospital admissions, numerous asthma attacks despite medical intervention, and died in 2013. This was the first time in the UK—and indeed, globally—that air pollution was listed as a direct cause on a death certificate.
We were pleased to see that she was successful in settling legal action with the government. A statement issued on behalf of the Department for Transport and the Department for Health and Social Care said: “Young children like Ella should not have to suffer because of our air.” They also said that this government are committed to delivering an ambitious clean air strategy.
Rosamund’s session at conference was truly inspiring and whilst we applaud this statement from the government, we also empathise with her response. ‘There are no winners when children lose their lives needlessly’, and her bravery to fight on in Ella’s name, may help to prevent further deaths in the future.
We too, will work to raise awareness that children have died from asthma in 2024 which is unacceptable, and we continue to campaign for the right to breathe clean air.