ITN-BUET has showcased Bangladesh’s water and sanitation initiatives at the UNC Water & Health Conference held during 14 to 18 October 2024. The UNC Water and Health conference is organized by the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), USA every year. The conference focuses on advancing global public health by achieving universal access to safe, affordable and sustainable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and is attended by leading WASH professionals of the world.
Prof. Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Director of ITN-BUET, participated in several sessions and side events as a distinguished speaker and panelist. He attended the side event titled ‘Understanding Pathogen Flows Associated with Sanitation and Hygiene in Urban Communities and Health Care Facilities,’ hosted by the PROMISE Consortium led by Emory University. In his presentation, he discussed the implementation of sanitation support tools in Bangladesh, sharing insights from stakeholders and emphasizing their key needs. The discussion centered on capacity building, the importance of up-to-date data, and how stakeholders make informed decisions in the sector. As a panelist, Prof. Dr. Ahmed addressed questions about the decision-making processes surrounding sanitation and hygiene, discussing the data currently utilized, the information required, and how public health is considered in these decisions. He also elaborated on the tools used for decision-making, explaining how tools like Exposure Assessment and Pathogen Flow Analysis can help set priorities in sanitation planning.
In the plenary session ‘How to WASH a Warming World: Crisis & Opportunity in the New Climate Reality,’ Prof. Ahmed, as a panelist, spoke on the challenges posed by climate change to WASH services. He emphasized the critical impact of climate change on WASH services, stating, “Climate change always affects WASH services. Global indicators and a climate-resilient approach are essential to guide governments in climate-affected countries toward ensuring safe WASH services.” Prof. Ahmed is currently serving as a member of Technical Working Group on monitoring climate resilient WASH indicators for JMP.
Representing ITN-BUET, a founding member of the Bangladesh FSM Network, Prof. Dr. Ahmed also delivered the keynote address at the side event, ‘How Can Low-Income Countries Maximize Infrastructure Investments in FSM Services?,’ He remarked, “Sanitation is no longer just about building infrastructure. We must provide equitable services by adopting diverse and innovative technologies, along with pro-poor financing and strong leadership.” In addition to his keynote, Prof. Dr. Ahmed moderated the panel discussion and plenary session of the event. Representatives from Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB), Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) and SNV Netherlands participated at the event and contributed to the session as panelists.
ITN-BUET, in association with icddrb and UNICEF, also demonstrated two posters on the application of WASHFIT in Healthcare facilities (HCF) in Bangladesh. The study was done in 16 HCFs in Bangladesh and advocated the necessity for improvements of infrastructure and WASH services in these facilities.
In addition to showcasing their research, ITN-BUET was honored with two awards at the conference: one for ‘Best Published Paper’ and another for ‘Best Original Research Abstract.’
The UNC Water & Health Conference provides a valuable platform for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to examine evidence, critically evaluate scientific findings, and explore innovative strategies for enhancing WASH access. ITN-BUET has been actively participating in this conference for several years, attending both in person and virtually.
