By NewsGram Staff Writer

According to the Word Health Organization, 2012 witnessed death of an estimated 7 million people only due to indoor and outdoor pollution. To curb this deadly issue, government officials from India, China, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa pledged together to improve people health by eliminating the air pollution.

With an initial total allocation of around $45 million, a new multi-donor trust watched over by World Bank aims at improving air quality in five major urban regions in India, China, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa. It is anticipated that the program could contribute greatly towards environmental health conditions for an estimated 150 million people in those cities over the next five years, a World Bank media release said

It also mentioned that Pollution Management and Environmental Health (PMEH) program will encourage other countries and cities of Sub-Saharan Africa, and endeavors to reduce land and water pollution.

The PMEH program, backed by a new multi-donor trust fund will support countries to reduce air, land and water pollution levels through pollution management planning. It will also help in generating new knowledge on pollution and its health impacts in urban, rural and marine areas.

Earlier, Paula Caballero, Senior Director, Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice, World Bank had said, "Improving air quality can be achieved in the face of urbanization when proactive leaders are willing to institute the right policies and investments."