In addition to RGHI’s side-event, ‘Bridging the Gap: Translating Global Hygiene Research into Policy for Public Health Impact’ at UNC’s Water & Health Conference 2024, this year’s conference also features presentations from several RGHI Fellows and Grantees, showcasing the diverse and impactful research being conducted in the field of hygiene and public health.

This 14th annual conference brings together safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) professionals from around the world. It provides a unique opportunity for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to review scientific evidence and develop improved approaches to expanding WaSH access and services for better global public health.

On Monday 14th October:

• Dr. Christine Marie George will present on “A randomized controlled trial of the Preventative-Intervention-for-Cholera- for-7-Days (PICHA7) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo” (3:15pm-4:30pm, Bellflower). Read about Christine’s RGHI Senior Fellowship here.
• Dr. Christine Moe will discuss “Global Experience with Environmental Surveillance: Lessons learned from Six Countries, Eight Cities, & Eight Pathogens” (3:15pm-4:30pm, Dogwood). Read about Christine’s RGHI International Collaboration Award here.
• Dr. Robert Dreibelbis (presenting on behalf of Kondwani Luwe) will discuss “Perceived facilitators and barriers to handwashing behaviour among new mothers and their guardians in Malawi” (3:15pm-4:30pm, Windflower). Read about Robert’s RGHI Innovation Grant here.
• Dr. Ian Ross will present “Intra-household gender gaps in quality of life: comparing people’s sanitation experiences in India and Kenya” (3:15pm-4:30pm, Mountain Laurel). Read about Ian’s RGHI Fellowship here.

On Tuesday 15th October:

• Dr. Kondwani Chidziwisano will present “WASH for Everyone Trial: Testing alternative approaches to CLTS implementation in rural Malawi” (3:15pm-4:30pm, Mountain Laurel). Read about Kondwani’s RGHI Senior Fellowship here.

On Wednesday 16th October:

• Dr. Ian Ross will give his second presentation, on “Comparative efficiency of sanitation and hygiene options in Malawi: benefit-cost analysis alongside a three-arm trial” (3:15pm-4:30pm, Dogwood).
• Dr. Rehmuna Haque will explore “Microbial contamination pathways and associated home hygiene behaviors: Insights from an urban slum setting” (3:15pm-4:30pm, Bellflower). Read about Rehmuna’s RGHI Fellowship here.

Also don’t miss these side events hosted by or involving RGHI Fellows and Award Holders:

• “Understanding the Pathogen Flows Associated with Sanitation in Urban Communities and Health Care Facilities” on Wednesday 16th October 1:30pm, Bellflower (featuring Christine Moe, convened by members of the PROMISE Consortium).
• “Evaluation of a case-area targeted intervention for cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo” on Wednesday 16th October 3:15pm, Windflower (featuring Christine Marie George, hosted by Kelly Endres, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health).
• “Measuring sanitation-related experiences, with implications for quality of life and gender equality: SanQoL-5 and ARISE” on Thursday 17th October 1:30pm, Redbud (featuring Ian Ross and Sheillah Simiyu, co-convened by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, African Population and Health Research Center, Emory University, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). Read about Sheillah’s RGHI Fellowship here.
• “Transformative WASH: Leveraging Mobile Health to Facilitate WASH Behavior Change in the Preventative-Intervention-for-Cholera-for-7-Days (PICHA7) Program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo” on Thursday 17th October, 1:30pm (featuring Christine Marie George, co-convened by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health & Catholic University of Bukavu).

The UNC Water and Health Conference continues to be a vital platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaborations, and driving innovation in the WaSH sector. The strong presence of RGHI Fellows and Grantees at this year’s conference underscores the Institute’s commitment to advancing the science of hygiene and its impact on global health.

With only a few days to go we are full of anticipation and can’t wait to get to North Carolina. Look forward to seeing you there!