‘The Number Of Children Who Die From Asthma Has Not Changed Since Ella’s Death… Every Year In London Between Eight And 12 Children Die’

'I always knew my daughter could do anything; she was highly intelligent and played 12 instruments - but her ultimate ambition was to be a pilot,' Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah says about her vibrant little girl Ella. She fondly reminisces on a trip they took to Bournemouth, six months before Ella passed, to watch the The Red Arrows. Even though she had asthma, Ella was adamant she could be a pilot. 'She looked at me and said, "Mum, I can be a pilot - you'll see." It really was her dream - I wonder what she would have thought about the air that she loved so much ultimately killing her.'

Nine-year-old Ella-Adoo-Kissi Debrah died on the 15 of February 2013 from a severe asthma attack. From the age of seven she began to develop a chest infection and persistent cough. A happy, healthy child was soon disabled by chronic asthma. In 2020, a landmark coroner’s report listed Ella as the first person in the world to have air pollution cited as a cause of death. Each day, Ella would walk to school with her mother and twin siblings from their home in Lewisham, South London unaware that illegal pollution levels were fatally harming her.

After fighting tooth and nail for the cause of Ella's death, Rosamund finally got her answers. In the conclusion ofElla's inquest in 2020,coroner Philip Barlow said Ella had been exposed to excessive levels of pollution before she died. Mr Barlow also revealed that the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) near Ella's home exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Union guidelines. There was also a lack of information given to Rosamund that possibly contributed to her death. Rosamund explains, 'The bottom line is, if there wasn't air pollution on the South Circular ring road around our house, not only would Ella not have got asthma in the first place, but she wouldn't have died on the night she did when it was at the highest levels it had ever been.'

In the 10 years since she lost her daughter, the secondary school teacher has become a fierce advocate for clean air through her many projects and a WHO BreatheLife Ambassador. Adoo-Kissi-Debrah also founded the Ella Roberta Family Foundation to improve the lives of children affected by asthma in South East London, and was awarded a CBE on the New Year Honours list for services to public health.

Rosamund's mission is to ensure that ‘no child in this country will die from asthma,’ through driving the proposed Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill - or "Ella's law" in Parliament. She says, 'It's very important to me that people understand the impact on the quality of the air they breathe on their health.' Rosamund explains that what happened to her family is more common than many think, 'I live right off the South Circular, but the South Circular is 25 metres long. What happened to me could have happened to anybody - your child could also suddenly get asthma. Unfortunately, Ella's got so bad that it killed her.’

As Ella’s 10th anniversary approaches, Rosamund admits today will be a difficult day: 'Anniversaries are really hard. I think my friends are concerned about how I will be because with 10 years - it's just a big number isn’t it?' Ella's anniversary today will be marked by a#BreatheForElla event at London’s South Bank, with music and breathing-themed artworks projected on the Rambert building. Ella’s 15-year-old sister and brother will also perform at the event. 'All my children are very musical - it still hurts to no longer see the three of them up there.' But how does one continue to fight after such a tragic loss? ‘I have good days and bad days,’ she says. ‘I worry more for my children because their whole life has been blighted by this. It must be quite a weight for them to carry.’ Rosamund's twins continue to be deeply affected by their sister's death. 'It's not been easy so, I have to continue for them,' Adoo-Kissi-Debrah says.

Rosamund wrote to the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in October but the message about the importance of Ella's Law still hasn't broke through. Ella's Law, which has passed in the House of Lords and is due to have its second reading in the Commons later this month, would make clean air a human right and set a date of 2030 for compliance with key pollution standards - 10 years earlier than the government’s current date.

Ella's coroner’s report three years ago called for tougher air pollution limits, more monitoring and public awareness - but in Commons, the urgency of this hasn't yet been realised. ‘I’ve spoken to many ministers but for some reason it’s stopped short of the Prime Minister.' She continues, 'Standing up in PMQs and saying he sends "thoughts and hearts to the family” was an interesting choice of words. I thought, that’s nice but it’s not going to change anything, is it?' Rosamund says she wants actions over words - and adopting Ella’s law in her memory would be a great start.

Adoo-Kissi-Debrah also firmly stands by the fact that her children deserve an apology from the Government for all they have had to to endure. She says, ‘I’m demanding an apology; they had to watch their sister die over two years and it was very traumatic. This has been going on basically all of their lives.' Rosamund adds, 'They don't even need to apologise to me, but do I think they need to apologise to my twins? Absolutely.'

Through her tireless work, Adoo-Kissi-Debrah has become both passionate and knowledgeable: '1.1 million children in this country have asthma, and a quarter of a million of them actually live in London. She continues, 'The number of children who still die from asthma has not changed since Ella’s death – can you believe that? Every year in London between eight and 12 children die. The link between air pollution and asthma is there - it's not the only factor but it is contributory.' Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat for premature death. A global study has linked almost a million stillbirths a year to air pollution exposure and every year, more than 7 million people die from air pollution factors.

She also highlights that air pollution impacts many other illnesses. Rosamund explains, 'It's not just asthma - it's any non-communicable or autoimmune disease; from Parkinson's, cancers, heart disease and strokes. So, a lot more people are impacted by air pollution than they even realise.'

A new study from Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry found links between between UK air pollution and mental health. Researchers tracked the incidence of depression and anxiety in almost 500,000 UK adults over 11 years, and found that those living in areas with higher pollution were more likely to suffer episodes, even when air quality was within official limits. For Rosamund, her message to the Government is clear:' If you clean up the air, then there won't be that harmful contributory factor.'

In the years that have passed since Ella's death, Adoo-Kissi-Debrah says music, tv series, church and her loved ones has helped her cope - but of course, the pain still lingers. She often imagines what Ella would be doing if she were still here, 'Ella would be 19 years-old. All her friends bar one are at university now so, I am in no doubt that she would also be there.' She continues, 'I keep in contact with Ella's friends organically because their mums are my friends. It was actually one of Ella's wishes before she passed she said, "Mum I hope they don't forget me."'

According to City Hall, in 2022, 99% of Londoners lived in an area where air pollution exceeded the recommendations from WHO. So, when local elections begin in May, Rosamund wants women to use their voice and vote to ensure their health - and their children's health - are a top priority. 'I think we need to take our power back and raise awareness,' she says. When candidates come knocking for votes Rosamund's message is: 'I hope people to say to the candidate who wants their vote, "What are you doing for my health?"' She continues, 'They’ll most likely be taken back at such a direct question and start going on about the National Health Service. And then people should start saying, "No, I don't want to get ill in the first place. What are you doing to do to clean the dirty air we breath to prevent me from getting ill?"'

Ways to cut air pollution that Adoo-Kissi-Debrah supports include investing in public transport: 'They need to make it cleaner and cheaper,' she says. While she supports the Mayor Sadiq Khan's initiative to expand ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) across Greater London, she stresses more needs to be done to reduce its potential negative impact. Rosamund also highlights that wood-burning in homes in the city is dangerous.

This grieving mother’s decade long fight holds a power far greater than clarifying the cause of her family’s tragedy. For Rosamund, it’s bigger than just London and the UK. If Ella's Law goes through Parliment, Rosamund will continue to fight overseas. 'I'd like to do some more work in Africa and Asia - that's the next step but I have to get through the anniversary first.'

10 years later, Rosamund still lives in Lewisham, 25 metres from the South Circular Road. She speaks fondly of the tight-knit community that supports her family and refuses to loose that. She explains, 'The GP said if I lived on a mountain somewhere, Ella never would have got asthma. That is the reality and it took me quite a while to accept that.' Rosamund continues: 'Some people will say "Oh well, you need to move," and go where? Not all of us can afford to move and some of us are quite happy where we live - apart from the pollution.'

Rosamund reflects on the last decade, but hopes that through keeping Ella's name alive, she can make a true difference. 'My life has taken a really sad turn because of illness and the death of my daughter. I wish she was here and I wouldn't have to do this - but it's just the way it is. I've had to learn to live with it and accept it.' In the face of her own heartbreaking tragedy, Rosamund's strength is indescribable - and she still has hope. 'I have to be hopeful,' she affirms. 'I can't keep on believing that half a million children before the age of five are going to continue dying every year - that's just not acceptable.' One thing is clear: if the government truly care about our health - they will push through Ella's Law.

The #BreatheForElla event will be held on the 15 February at Green Room by the Rambert, South Bank (SE1 9PP, London) at 5pm.