Inauguration of air quality monitoring stations

In the framework of a two year project “Protecting health from Climate Change in Albania”, funded by Germany and implemented by WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Institute of Public Health, two modern air quality monitoring stations were established in Tirana. The stations, which are located in the Institute of Public Health and in the main policlinic in Tirana, were officially inaugurated on 26 May 2010 by the Minister of Health, Dr Petrit Vasili, and the German Ambassador Bernd Borchardt. They underlined the importance of these stations which would provide reliable data similar to those of other Western countries.

The media was present during the inauguration and had the chance to see the figures in the displays of the equipment which, although very preliminary, showed pollution levels well over WHO/Europe and EU norms. The results are expected to support policy-makers in their decision how to improve the air quality in Tirana but also to raise the awareness of population to use green alternatives. Regular periodic bulletins are being expected to be issued by the Ministry of Health based on the data obtained.