From 29 April to 1 May 2025, the Advance Warning and Response (AW&R) Research Coalition workshop was hosted by the Brown University Pandemic Center and Washington State University in Kenya.

The workshop aimed to investigate positive outliers in AW&R systems, specifically those that are essential for mitigating infectious disease threats across the world, and to identify the best practices for effective AW&R systems.

Ms Muthise Bulani was among the attendees and participated in various group presentations aligned with the Climate Change and Health Research Programme work. She also mused that South African AW&R work is on par with other systems, although improvements can be made.

We are proud to announce that Dr. Renée Street, Unit Director and Chief Specialist Scientist, has been elected as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS) - a prestigious recognition of her exceptional contributions to science on the continent.

Dr Street’s election follows a rigorous, multi-level review and voting process conducted by the African Academy of Science (AAS) Membership Advisory Committees and endorsed by the Governing Council. The Fellowship is a testament to her impactful research, leadership, and commitment to improving environmental and public health. As an AAS Fellow, Dr Street joins a distinguished community of Africa’s leading scientists and innovators who contribute to advancing science, shaping policy, and promoting evidence-informed solutions across the continent. She will also play a vital role in AAS activities, including working groups, scientific review panels, and regional collaborations aimed at addressing Africa’s most pressing health and development challenges. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Street on this well-deserved recognition.

Ms Setshaba Taukobong attended the ISCB-Africa ASBCB 2025 conference, held from April 14 to 17, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa. The event brought together a dynamic community of global and African researchers to explore advancements and challenges in the field of bioinformatics and computational biology. The conference featured a comprehensive scientific program with over 200 scientific talks and poster presentations. Sessions covered a diverse range of topics, including AI in Genomics and Precision Medicine, Bioinformatics Education, Agricultural Bioinformatics, Data Governance, Metagenomics, Pathogen Genomics and General Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.

As part of the conference program, Ms Taukobong presented a research poster titled “Leveraging Machine Learning for COVID-19 Outbreak Prediction through Wastewater Surveillance in the Western Cape, South Africa.”  The presentation highlighted ongoing work at the SAMRC WSARP program in applying AI to public health surveillance through wastewater-based epidemiology.

The conference offered a valuable opportunity to stay up to date with cutting-edge tools and technologies, engage in networking, and receive constructive feedback and validation on the current AI solution being developed within the WSARP.

Between 8 and 12 April 2025, Professor Caradee Wright attended the Global Atmospheric Watch - Air Pollution-Climate Change-Health Effects Nexus (ARCH) committee meeting and Streaming Urban-related activities in the GAW Programme Meeting joint meeting; which included SAG APP, GURME, GAFIS, IG3S and ARCH – in Geneva.

The Air Pollution - Climate Change - Health Effects Nexus Working Group (ARCH WG) is designed to help coordinate GAW activities that support health-related strategies. This GAW Programme Meeting was a joint meeting that addressed urban air quality / climate / health challenges around the world – across its groups and streamlines urban-related activities within the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme to enhance Integrated Urban Services (IUS) under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Both meetings were hosted by the WMO and aimed to strengthen collaboration and integration of urban-related activities within GAW and across WMO, ultimately improving the delivery of the strategy and implementation plan and shaping the GAW roadmap for the coming years.

Professor Caradee Wright serves as a member on these committees and actively participated in the ARCH and WMO meetings, including contributing to a discussion session.

At the Southern Africa Regional Workshop on Wastewater Surveillance for Environmental and Public Health, held from 8–10 April 2025 in Johannesburg, Dr. Renée Street played a key role in showcasing South Africa’s progress and leadership in wastewater surveillance. This UNEP-led event, supported by WHO, SADC, and the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), brought together experts, government officials, and stakeholders from 16 Southern African countries to strengthen regional collaboration and capacity in using wastewater data for public and environmental health.

Dr. Street presented during a crucial session focused on practical examples and case studies from South Africa, where she shared insights on how wastewater surveillance is already contributing to early disease detection, monitoring environmental pollutants, and supporting public health action. Her input formed part of a broader discussion that emphasized the value of integrated surveillance approaches and South Africa’s innovation in applying this emerging science.

She also contributed to training sessions aimed at building technical capacity among participants, covering sampling, data communication, and real-world applications of wastewater surveillance. Dr. Street’s involvement underscores the SAMRC’s commitment to advancing public health research and collaboration across the continent. Her leadership at the workshop not only reflected South Africa’s achievements but also inspired other countries in the region to harness the potential of wastewater as a tool for early warning, disease monitoring, and sustainable development.

Between 6 to 9 April 2025, the annual Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) Conference was held in Worcester, Western Cape, hosted by PHASA.

The conference aimed to provide a platform for health practitioners to share their experiences and research, discuss challenges faced in the sector, and engage with key stakeholders.

Mr Ngwako Kwatala attended various sessions, covering topics such as community engagement, occupational and environmental health, and public health education, training and research. Each session addressed specific issues, including interactions between communities and academia, exposure levels of different pollutants and their associated health implications. Additionally, Mr Kwatala gained valuable insights into how patient information is shared amongst health practitioners and how knowledge from their respective fields is collected and utilized.

Mr Ngwako Kwatala is hopeful that there will be opportunities for the SAMRC to collaborate with institutions specializing in citizen science to co-develop scientific research materials. He also noted the innovative ways some institutions are leveraging technology to alert the public about climate variables and their impacts on human health.

Ms Setshaba Taukobong attended the Grand Challenges AI Community meeting held on April 1-2, 2025, and the inaugural Global AI Summit on Africa that took place on April 3–4, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda, hosted by the Government of Rwanda.

The Grand Challenges AI Community meeting featured over 50 grant recipients from 17  low- and middle-income countries, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Grand Challenges network. Day one included roundtable discussions on individual artificial intelligence (AI) solutions addressing some of the world's urgent health care challenges, followed by poster presentations on the second day to showcase these AI solutions.

Over 2,000 delegates attended the inaugural Global AI Summit on Africa, including heads of state, policymakers, academics, researchers and AI experts. ​ The summit’s theme was: “AI and Africa’s Demographic Dividend: Reimagining Economic Opportunities for Africa’s Workforce.” Key discussions focused on harnessing the power of AI to boost innovation and competitiveness across Africa’s economies, industries, and societies. Positioning Africa as a global leader in the ethical, trustworthy, and inclusive adoption of AI was emphasised. The event also highlighted the importance of promoting the sustainable and responsible design, development, deployment, use, and governance of AI technologies across the continent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently organized the Second Global Conference on, “Air Pollution and Health: Accelerating action for clean air, clean energy access and climate change mitigation”, in collaboration with the Republic of Colombia – at the Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias. Various stakeholders and high-level United Nations agencies’ representatives attended the conference.

Objectives for the Conference included presenting evidence, identifying gaps, and showcasing tools for health impact assessment, aimed at practitioners and other technical and political representatives on day one. Day two focused on translating evidence into actionable solutions at different levels of government, while day 3 centred around next steps.

Professor Caradee Wright addressed sessions on, “Science & Policy Roundtable: Since the release of the WHO AQG good practice statements for sand and dust storms, how has public health protection from SDS changed?”, and “Waste burning challenges and opportunities in LMICs” – as well as the Q&A session. Dr Thandi Kapwata participated in the Emerging Leaders Workshop which was based around the conference. The workshop brought together emerging researchers from low- and middle-income countries globally, to advance understanding of the connections between scientific research in the context of air pollution, climate change, and health. Read more here.

The Water, Sanitation and Society (WSS) Research team attended the Environmental Biogeochemistry field sampling course from 17-19 March 2025. The course was hosted by the Central Analytical Facilities (CAF) at the BioGrip Node for Soil and Water Analysis at Stellenbosch University. Topics covered in the course included environmental isotopes, dust sampling (land & water), trace metal analysis and contaminants of emerging concern. The procedures of field sampling for different environment samples, sample preparation techniques and analysis were covered. Participants were given a laboratory tour and overview of the various equipment such as the isotope ratio mass spectrometer, inductively coupled - mass spectrometer, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. The team gained meaningful insights from the course, which will be beneficial for project planning and setup.

Dr. Renée Street was recently invited to join a high-level panel at the finale of the AquaticPollutants Roadshow, which took place on March 17, 2025, in Cape Town, as part of the 14th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse. The event focused on the urgent global challenge of emerging pollutants and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic ecosystems, such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and industrial by-products.

Emerging pollutants, or contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), pose significant environmental and health risks, particularly as their release and persistence in aquatic environments are expected to increase due to factors like industrial growth, inadequate waste management, and climate change. These pollutants are harmful not only to ecosystems but also to public health, making effective management crucial.

Dr. Street’s participation on the panel emphasized her commitment to bridging the gap between research and actionable policy solutions for managing aquatic pollution and AMR. Her insights will contribute to shaping future global strategies for environmental sustainability.

The Climate Change and Health Research Programme undertakes many studies that also feed into internationally funded projects such as Planet4HEALTH. SAMRC is one of 17 partners working on PLANET4HEALTH that entails finding multisectoral solutions to mitigate adverse effects of vector-borne diseases, environmental pollution and climate change. The SAMRC is leading Case Study 2 (CS2) out of a total of four case studies. CS2 is on, “Air pollution and health in South Africa: towards forecasting and preventing ill health effects.” Read more here.

An annual General Assembly project meeting was held in Belgrade, Serbia between 10-11 March 2025. Various discussions on project components were had, including the work packages and CSs.

Prof Caradee Wright co-presented on WP4 – which dealt with the topic of Communication, Dissemination and Policymaking. During the session on, “Discussion with CS1 and CS2 leaders”, Prof Wright acted as co-moderator.

The E&HRU CC&HRP team looks forward to ramping up its project work this year.

Dr. Renée Street led a two-day capacity-building workshop on science advice in Kigali, Rwanda. This event was part of an initiative organized by the African Chapter of the International Network on Governmental Science Advice (INGSA-Africa). The primary aim of the workshop was to engage with the INGSA-Africa Hub-Rwanda team on essential knowledge and skills related to the principles and structures of science advice. It also focused on the significant role that evidence plays in shaping effective policymaking and offered strategies for efficient knowledge mobilization. Throughout the workshop, Dr. Street and her fellow facilitators guided participants through a series of presentations, general discussions, and training techniques designed to enhance their understanding of science advice. The sessions included interactive fictional case studies, allowing attendees to engage with real-world scenarios and apply what they had learned in practical ways. As a founding member of INGSA-Africa, Dr. Street has been a key advocate for integrating evidence-informed science advice into policymaking in Africa. Her expertise and involvement in the workshop highlighted her deep commitment to promoting the effective use of scientific evidence in shaping public policy across the continent. The workshop's interactive nature encouraged active participation, fostering a collaborative learning environment for all involved.

The E&HRU Climate Change and Health Research Programme (CC&HRP) team undertook a study to investigate the health impacts of those living in districts with coal-fired power stations (CFPS), compared to those who do not live near these power stations – which was funded by the British High Commission (BHC) i.e. the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).

Evidence showed that those living near CFPS were at a 6% greater risk of being negatively impacted, than those who live in areas away from CFPS. Further, the study is the first of its kind on the continent, given that real data and not a modelling approach was used. Therefore, the team hosted a workshop to discuss key findings and recommendations – in collaboration with the FCDO (6 March 2025).

Key speakers such as Professor Rachel Kyte (Special UK Representative for Climate), Dr Patience Gwaze (DFFE) and Ms Ntombi Maphosa (Centre for Environmental Rights) attended the event. Various media houses were also present.

Professor Caradee Wright gave an overview of the study and its findings and Dr Thandi Kapwata facilitated the Q&A session. Commitments to find sustainable solutions to air quality issues in Africa were reaffirmed. A report is also set to be published in the coming weeks.

Prof Kalpana Balakrishnan visited South Africa from 3-14 March 2025 as part of the Distinguished Visiting Scholar (DVS) Programme – in various provinces – in collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation, Academy of Sciences in South Africa (ASSAf) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). The 2024/2025 DVS award was given to Prof Caradee Wright for her nomination of Prof Balakrishnan.

Prof Balakrishnan is a world-renowned scholar on household air pollution, ambient air quality, as well as research on the global burden of disease, among other areas.

During her visit at the School of Health Systems and Public Health at the University of Pretoria (UP), Prof Balakrishnan gave a presentation on, “Air Pollution and Climate Equity Considerations for getting to net Zero.” Prof Balakrishnan demonstrated the burden of climate change effects of those who have less access to resources to mitigate emissions, or the ability to finance solutions relating to climate actions. Dr Thandi Kapwata attended Prof Balakrishnan’s talk at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

This talk aligns strongly with the goals and objectives that the E&HRU Climate Change and Health Research Programme aims to address in its research into climate change, air pollution and human health impacts.

Recently, the E&HRU Climate Change and Health Research Programme (CC&HRP) hosted a delegation at the SAMRC Pretoria regional offices between 27-28 February 2025, as part of a domestic study tour hosted by the World Bank.

The event, titled, “Gauteng City Region HAP & EWS Working Group Domestic Study Tour”, addressed the following objectives which included advancing dialogue on heat action planning and early warning systems in cities in the Gauteng region; evaluation of current resources – as well as determining gaps.

Entities such as the South African Weather Services (SAWS) shared insights into data collection and network coverage, as well as dissemination through the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for creating public awareness – at their Centurion offices.

Dr Thandi Kapwata and Mr Ngwako Kwatala presented research done on heat, at the SAMRC Pretoria regional offices. Wits RHI hosted the delegation at Laudium Community Health Centre, where temperature and humidity is measured. Another visit was arranged to a residential area where the homes are made from corrugated iron sheets with no windows – significantly increasing temperatures. Other presentations and visits followed.

E&HRU aims to assist in providing scientific evidence of heat impacts in relation to health and effectively communicate findings to the public.

On 26 February, Professor Caradee Wright presented at the ACDI Lecture at the University of Cape Town (UCT). The presentation was titled, “SCALE-up –a new framework to assess the effectiveness of climate change adaptation interventions for health.” This is an overarching theme or research focus within the E&HRU Climate Change and Health Research Programme (CCHRP).

Professor Caradee Wright emphasized that climate change adaptation interventions need to include strategies that address impacts on human health, while focusing on environmental health concerns. A case study from Senegal was used to illustrate the potential for improvement, if health impacts and outcomes are also considered. Professor Wright spoke to attendees regarding processes undertaken to publish a study on this related topic – as an NIH Scholar.

The presentation was well attended, and Professor Caradee Wright appreciated the interaction with the staff and students and hopes to continue collaborations.

The Health Effect Institute’s (HEI) East Africa initiative aims to deepen the capacity to assess and communicate the health effects of air pollution, which is currently essential for the region. The workshop was hosted by the Health Effects Institute in partnership with AirQo, World Resources Institute Africa and the Eastern Africa GEOHealth Hub.

Its aims included assessing the progress on air quality and health in East Africa, developing a consensus of current challenges and opportunities in air pollution and health research, in relation to local contexts and identify 3-5 short and medium-term goals for research and action that funders should prioritise. Professor Caradee Wright and Dr Pallavi Pant co-moderated the summary of discussions from the session on, “Health Effects of Exposure to Air Pollution.” Additionally, Professor Wright also chaired the session on, “Future Prospects for Research and Action on Air Pollution and Consideration for Climate Change and Public Health” – sharing key recommendations from a scoping review, as well as possible next steps.

This workshop builds on existing and potential future research within the Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU)’s Climate Change and Health Research Programme. Professor Wright valued engaging with government departments and NGOs, who were also in attendance.

Dr Thandi Kapwata attended the Heat Nexus Convening held in Cape Town from the 4th – 7th of February 2025. The convening brought together 35 participants from 9 projects which form part of the Wellcome Trust Heat Adaptation cohort. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Heat Adaptions Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA) project to showcase the study’s success to date. Dr Kapwata presented and facilitated a session on Climate Change and Ethics.

Climate change poses significant risks to the health of people, and the environment. Moreover, rising global temperatures and extreme heat events have a greater impact on vulnerable population groups – including children.

During the Advocacy Symposium hosted by the University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health on 29 January 2025 on: Rising to the challenge of extreme heat: centring children in policy and practice, Dr Thandi Kapwata presented the E&HRU Climate Change and Health Research Programme’s projects and initiatives aimed at combating exposure of children to heat – where academics and paediatric physicians were in attendance. The Climate and Health Research Programme team remains committed to addressing issues brought about through increased occurrences of extreme weather events which affect vulnerable populations in South Africa, as well as continuing existing collaborations and pursuing potential future endeavours.

Dr. Renee Street and Ms. Melissa Nel from our E&HRU Persistent Toxic Substance Research Programme recently hosted a vibrant workshop that brought together government officials, researchers, occupational health experts, and industry leaders—all united to tackle the growing concern of lead in artisanal aluminium cookware.

The session kicked off with Dr. Street shedding light on the health risks associated with lead exposure, setting the stage for an engaging day of ideas and insights. Next up was a look at global regulations on lead in aluminium cookware, followed by an interactive stakeholder mapping activity led by Ms. Nel. Participants enthusiastically worked together to identify key players, assess their roles, and explore ways to empower communities most affected by this issue, including local pot manufacturers and everyday consumers.

This lively gathering marks an important step towards a collaborative approach to reducing lead exposure risks. As we move forward, we’re excited to continue the conversation, deepen our research, and engage with policy-makers to ensure a safer, more sustainable future for artisanal aluminium cookware in South Africa.

From 27-29 January 2025, the SAMRC’s Climate Change and Human Health Research Programme team participated in a training and skills transfer event in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The event was hosted by the University of Port Harcourt, in collaboration with the University of Leicester, University of Ibadan, University of Pretoria, and others.

The training focused on  work package 3 of the “Protecting African Youth who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) against depression: An investigation of differentially impactful, multisystemic resilience enablers (Resilient NEETs [R-NEET])” project, funded by the Wellcome Trust. Further, the project also includes Youth Advisory Committees.

Co-led by Prof Caradee Wright, the project addresses physiological and environmental factors. Key activities include temperature measurements and health assessments.

Prof Wright presented an overview of the project, emphasizing ethics and good clinical practice. Mr Ngwako Kwatala trained enumerators for the home environment data collection, and the nurses were trained by Mr Siyathemba Kunene.

At the 2024 Science Forum South Africa, Dr Renée Street led a dynamic and interactive session focused on the critical intersection of science and policy. The session, which was part of the event’s exploration of global challenges, emphasized the importance of science diplomacy and effective science-policy interfaces (SPI).

The session featured an engaging analysis of a fictional case study that illustrated a multi-faceted science-policy issue. Facilitated by members of the INGSA-Africa Steering Committee, the session encouraged active participation from attendees, allowing them to explore real-world scenarios of science and policy collaboration.

At the heart of the discussion was the need for bridging the gap between scientific research and policymaking. Dr Renée Street and the panel underscored the value of communication and collaboration between scientists and policymakers to ensure that evidence-based decisions are made, addressing complex societal issues. The session also highlighted the role of the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) in strengthening global science advice systems through detailed case studies, offering attendees invaluable insights into effective practices. Through hands-on activities and interactive simulations, participants gained practical skills for navigating the challenges of the science-policy interface.

In the spirit of collaboration and promoting a healthy lifestyle, the SAMRC Corporate Marketing and Communications Division organised a Health Awareness Walk on 16 November, where staff members and families joined in on a 5km walk at Mouille Point Lighthouse in Cape Town. The E&HRU were excited to participate in this fun-filled day, where they not only celebrated health and wellness, but could take in the beautiful scenery on offer in Cape Town, while having casual chats and a few laughs with friends and family. The team’s participation in this event underscores the importance of staying active, fostering connections, and raising awareness about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in both personal and professional spheres.

On 12 November 2024, the Paris Brain Institute hosted a pivotal conference on wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), held both in-person and online. The event brought together experts from across the globe to explore how wastewater analysis can help monitor and manage the spread of infectious diseases. Dr Street presented on the South Africa perspective offering valuable contributions to the discussions.

The conference, supported by esteemed partners including the World Health Organization, 4EU+ Alliance (through the SWEALTH project), OBEPINE, Sorbonne Université, Geneva Health Forum, and Panthéon Assas University, delved into the significant role of WBE, which has gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions focused on WBE’s potential in detecting and monitoring various infectious agents, such as respiratory viruses, arboviruses, and sexually transmitted infections, along with addressing global concerns like antibiotic resistance. By providing governments with critical health risk indicators, WBE offers a powerful tool for creating integrated health monitoring systems that address disparities in healthcare access.

Dr Thandi Kapwata attended the Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR) held a two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2024 on the topic: “Ethical issues arising in research into health and climate change.”

The Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR) brings together researchers, research policy makers and ethicists, among others, to share experiences and promote collaboration around research ethics. This Forum is built around case study presentations to ensure that discussion of the ethical issues remain grounded in the practical realities of how research is conducted, particularly in low resource settings.

Compared to traditional meetings, GFBR is unique in that it is limited in size and built around small group discussions of case studies that are submitted by participants. The Forum prioritises the participation of colleagues from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), encourages networking and mentoring, and creates a venue for open and inclusive discussions.

Between 6–8 November, the African Research and Impact Network (ARIN) hosted an interactive virtual session where scholars presented their work and engaged with experts.

The main aims of the event were to foster the generation of new ideas and partnerships. Attendees included Professor Caradee Wright, who gave a keynote address on 7 November. The topic was entitled, “How can we effectively leverage existing networks at the climate-health intersection to enhance collaboration between climate and health organizations and bridge the gap between research and actionable outcomes?”

Professor Wright believes that the conference could offer the possibility of future collaborations with other institutions stakeholders that were present. In terms of furthering current and future research, Professor Caradee Wright found the discussions with experts and researchers giving insight into current and possible research areas very valuable.

From 4-8 November 2024, Dr Thandi Kapwata attended a convening at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center in Italy. The title of the convening was, “A University Consensus Agenda on Climate, Health, and Equity Research." It aimed to bring together a small and select group of thought leaders from research universities across the globe who are focussed on the critical intersection of climate and health.

As the global community endeavours to avoid and adapt to climate change, it is imperative to harness the special educational and research roles that universities occupy. Universities are not the public sector, private sector, or for-profit research sector. Research universities have unique roles to play in climate change and global health due to their interdisciplinary research mission, educational mission, operational footprint, and their ability to be seen as honest brokers and conveners of record.

 The convening on, “A University Consensus Agenda on Climate, Health, and Equity Research”, aimed to formulate a research agenda that takes stock of current efforts to guide climate and health research, identifies gaps with an eye toward capitalizing on the special strengths that universities can provide, and strategize how universities can more seamlessly integrate and contribute for a comprehensive research agenda.

Dr Tracey Laban was invited to be part of a panel discussion at the Public Interest Law Gathering (PILG) 2024, held at Solomon Mahlangu House (Wits) on 3 and 4 December 2024. This forum brings together people from across South Africa and beyond and provides a space for attendees to discuss, debate, reflect and exchange skills, knowledge, ideas, and strategies on various topics concerning human rights and social justice. One of the panels discussed the question of whether a class action lawsuit to hold polluters accountable for the harm caused by air pollution is possible in South Africa. Dr Laban summarised the research and data that has been accumulated as evidence of the health effects of air pollution in South Africa. The other panellists were from groundWork, Richard Spoor Inc. and Centre for Environmental Rights who shared lessons learned from class action lawsuits in South Africa and experiences in public interest advocacy, working in communities in the Highveld Air Pollution Priority Area. It was concluded that a lot more needed to be done for this cause of action raising a triable issue and for the class action certification application to have any prospects of success.

Within the research community, research translation is integral to linking policy and on the ground practices with current studies, so that healthcare is improved overall. However, implementation is slow – particularly in countries like South Africa that has limited resources, as well as the African continent overall.

To address these challenges, the SAMRC Climate Change and Health Research Programme (CC&HRP) team collaborated with the organisation NIH-funded CAFÉ (based in the USA) and hosted a joint workshop on 22 November 2024 in Cape Town, along with other stakeholders.

The objectives of the workshop included:

Identifying the research translation opportunities and needs of climate-health researchers in Southern African countries. Generating ideas for research translation activities in select African countries based on gaps in national policy responses. Finally, producing a summary of climate-health research translation opportunities, priorities, and challenges to share with the CAFÉ Community of Practice, meeting partners and participants, and NIH, to facilitate consideration of further actions in this arena.

Professor Caradee Wright and Ms Muthise Bulani gave a presentation entitled, “Critical Climate-Health Challenges in Southern Africa.” Informative and thought-provoking group discussions formed part of the day’s events, including a commitment to continuing the conversation.

Following research relating to heat health and collaborations with organisations including the SAMRC, the World Bank hosted an event on the City Resilience Knowledge Exchange: Lessons from Ahmedabad for Extreme Heat Resilience in South Africa, in Ahmedabad from 11-15 November 2024.

The event aimed to advance dialogue on heat action planning and early warning systems in cities in the Gauteng Region, i.e. Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane, as well as develop a Heat Action Plan for Gauteng Region using the lessons from Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan. Efficient ways of developing cooling systems in heat events were also discussed.

Attendees, including Mr Ngwako Kwatala from the SAMRC CC&HRP team, participated in various activities which included presentations on case studies. The group also visited places such as CEPT University and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital. Visiting informal settlements was also part of the tour – to showcase how the city is adapting to rising temperatures, through acting by painting rooves white. A local newspaper also reported on the event.

Mr Kwatala believes that the E&HRU team can acquire and produce evidence-based research that the province, cities and departments should use to inform policies relating to the impacts of climate change to public health.

On 6 November 2024, the National Department of Health – Environmental Health Directorate hosted a webinar that aimed to empower healthcare workers about the issues related to climate change and health in South Africa. The platform allows experts to see what research still needs to be undertaken – based on healthcare workers’ experience on the ground.

More than 1500 people were in attendance and Professor Caradee Wright gave a presentation called, ‘Climate change related-health impacts in the world, Africa and South Africa – Why should we be worried?’ There will also be future webinar sessions relating to topics chosen by the healthcare workers.

From 1-3 November 2024, the Beijing Forum and World Meteorological Organization – Global Atmospheric Watch - Air Pollution-Climate Change-Health Effects Nexus (ARCH) committee meeting was held in Beijing. The Beijing Forum is a prestigious academic platform with a global influence and is co-hosted by Peking University, Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, and the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies. Added to this, the Air Pollution - Climate Change - Health Effects Nexus Working Group (ARCH WG) is designed to help coordinate GAW activities that support health-related strategies.

The meeting aimed to facilitate international academic exchanges and trans-cultural discussions to foster social development, harmony between civilizations, and greater prosperity for humankind. Further, the meeting was co-sponsored by Peking University, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, and the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies.

Professor Caradee Wright gave a virtual presentation on the, “Linkages and Opportunities For Applying Sustainability Principles To Advance Environmental Health: A South African Perspective” – which garnered much interest – and attended the WMO committee meeting.

Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni attended the Climate and Health Africa Conference held at Harare, Zimbabwe between 29 – 31 October 2024. The conference theme was ‘Cultivating resilience in health: Towards unified equitable strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation in Africa’. It aimed to incorporate cutting-edge research evidence into understanding climate-health mechanisms, the health impacts, effective adaptation and mitigation intervention strategies, equitable climate research, and discuss how to effectively translate research into policy. The conference also served as a platform for sharing innovations, best practices, and solutions that enhance climate resilience in health.

There were over 400 participants in attendance, representing 30 countries. The conference brought together ministers and high-level policymakers from 15 countries. Various teams were present, including the Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable Groups in Africa (HABVIA) project teams from South Africa and Ghana. Dr Mahlangeni, a collaborator on the HABVIA project, had the opportunity to share knowledge, exchange ideas and network with other climate and health researchers. The conference concluded with the launch of the ‘Harare Declaration on Climate and Health in Africa’, outlining a unified approach for climate-related health priorities going forward.

HABVIA team members at the Climate and Health Africa Conference 2024

Dr Chantelle Howlett-Downing presented a poster on: Air quality at a legacy mining town and SPLUMA, Welkom 2022-2023.

SASAS is an air quality and meteorology conference. Students and lecturers highlight their studies and present new work. The theme for the 2024 conference was, "Exploring the Novel Integration of Tools To Understand Our Changing Environment", emphasising the use of interdisciplinary methods to comprehend impactful weather and climate events across scales. By integrating insights from various scientific disciplines, predictive capabilities are enhanced  as well as strategies developed  for mitigating the impacts of these phenomena.

Her poster was a study to determine the PM2.5 concentrations at two sites at a legacy mining town in South Africa. Samples were collected between 6 April 2022 to 23 April 2023 at two sites (Industrial and Residential), Welkom, Matjebeng Local Municipality. Data is stratified by seasons. When averaging the duplicate samples, a total of 73 observations for the 12-month dataset were recorded. Gravimetric analysis was used to determine PM2.5 concentration. The annual mean PM2.5 levels was 14.7 µg.m-3 (11.6 – 66) at the Industrial area and 6.34 µg.m-3 (6.34 – 23.4) at the Residential site. This study compared the old and new spatial planning trends in Welkom.

On 21-22 October 2024, the One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre in Africa (OHRECA) Advisory Committee Meeting was held in Nairobi, hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The OHRECA promotes the health of humans, animals, and the environment by supporting applied research, capacity development, and the translation of evidence into policy and practice within the framework of One Health. Further, the meeting was for the OHRECA team and postgraduate students to present progress from the past year, and for planning for the coming year.

Professor Caradee Wright is an advisor and scores the postgraduate presentations and gives out awards to the top 2, apart from learning about trends in one health research in Africa to help inform the Climate Change and Health Research Programme (CCHRP) projects and proposals within the Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU). This year, Professor Wright initiated a new activity for the postgraduate students in asking them to listen to all the presentations and at the end, write down the most profound or striking thing that they heard. The two best reflections got prizes.

This was the anniversary of the Centre of Environmental Management at the University of the Free State (UFS). The theme for the conference was ‘Sustainable horizons – Navigating the future with environmental innovation’.

There was a range of talks that included: The role of sustainability reporting in promoting sustainable business practices in South Africa; Are we winning? Offset solutions: A get out of jail free card or a cost-effective solution to one of South Africa’s most intractable environmental problems? and Using macroinvertebrates to unravel the monitoring requirements of natural to near natural river systems.

Dr Chantelle Howlett-Downing presented a poster, which was a 3 min presentation, on Air quality at a legacy mining town, a case study, Welkom, South Africa. It was a very pleasant conference, and she received constructive feedback.

From 9-13 October, a meeting was held in Beijing at the Peking University that brought together experts and researchers from around the world to discuss scientific evidence and policy development regarding air pollution, climate change, energy, and health – hosted by the WHO and Peking University. The event facilitated knowledge exchange, evidence synthesis, collaborative research, and the development of actionable strategies to mitigate the health impacts of air pollution, climate change, and unsustainable energy use.

Main objectives of the event included: discussing and advancing ongoing and planned WHO activities and products related to health impact assessment of air pollution, methods for assessing the co-benefits of climate action, desert dust and health and interventions and policies to address the health impacts of air pollution. It provides a platform to synthesize the latest evidence and policy changes on air pollution, climate change, energy, and health, as well as discuss ongoing and future activities that will also foster dialogues to accelerate the research and implementation of effective public health interventions.

Professor Caradee Wright gave a presentation on air quality offsets and will be submitting a proposal to host a member of the TAG in South Africa and is inspired to conduct similar future research.

Dr. Renée Street was invited to deliver a keynote address at the Lorentz workshop on wastewater surveillance, which took place between 7-11 October 2024 in Leiden, the Netherlands. Organized by a distinguished group of experts, the workshop focused on innovative approaches to infectious disease surveillance through wastewater analysis. Dr. Street’s extensive experience in environmental health and infectious disease dynamics positions her as a pivotal contributor to discussions on the challenges and solutions within this field. Her keynote address shed light on the complexities of wastewater surveillance, addressing both current methodologies and future research directions. The workshop fostered collaboration among researchers from diverse backgrounds, with the goal of drafting a comprehensive review or white paper that will be published in a high-impact journal. Dr. Street’s participation enhanced the workshop’s focus on interactive discussions, ultimately paving the way for innovative strategies in wastewater surveillance.

Amid national commemorations of World Environmental Health Day on 26 September, the Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU) – and other research units – hosted a group of grade 12 girls who are part of the StemMentHER Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town (UCT) respective cohorts.

Founded in 2022, the StemMentHER programme aims to empower young girls interested in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) regarding careers that they may wish to pursue in future – alongside a mentor.

As a pilot, the SAMRC collaborated with the StemMentHER cohort in Cape Town, allowing these learners firsthand experience into the type of research conducted at the country’s top science council – like during the GEN-S Programme.

Dr Tahira Kootbodien presented an overview of E&HRU’s research conducted in the Water, Sanitation and Society, Persistent Toxic Substance, as well as Climate Change and Health Programmes. Ms Setshaba Taukobong illustrated bioinformatics and its practical applications, while Ms Amy Sheldon spoke to the role of science communication and research translation. They also alluded to their diverse higher educational backgrounds.

Overall, the day’s programme activities were well-received. The SAMRC confidently positions itself as an employer of choice for these future scientists and related STEM careerists.

Climate Change presents the greatest threat to humanity and significantly impacts health globally. Africa suffers the great burden of its impact. There is mounting evidence of climate change-related impacts on human health in our continent leaving behind outbreaks, damaging infrastructure and rising burden climate sensitive diseases. Africa CDC understands the role of climate change in achieving its vision of a safer, healthier and more prosperous Africa. It prioritizes interventions at the Climate change and health nexus using the one health approach to potentially reduce the disease burden caused by climate change impact on health in the continent.

The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle these complex challenges. Africa CDC has convened an expert review meeting to develop draft zero of the Continental Strategy on Climate Change and Health to guide efforts and interventions of Africa CDC and other key continental stakeholders and member states in this sector.

Based on long-standing successes, Dr Thandi Kapwata was invited to attend the 1st Climate Change and Health Expert Group Meeting to develop draft zero of the strategy documents – held from the 25-27 September in Addis Ababa.

Dr Tracey Laban attended the Frontiers of Science workshop hosted by ASSAf and the Royal Society (United Kingdom) held on 25-27 September 2024 in Johannesburg. The theme of the workshop was Environmental Health and implications on Human Health. Additionally, there were five subthemes within the main theme, namely Co-infection of TB and HIV and its implications, Smart materials, Air Quality, Adolescent mental health and Astrophysics. Dr Laban presented a poster on her work aligned to the subtheme on Air Quality. The aim of the workshop was to strengthen collaboration between South African and UK scientists and promote interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental health issues. An output of this meeting will be a written proceedings report to share recommendations for public health policies to mitigate environmental impact on human health. The report will be disseminated widely to stakeholders in the UK and Africa, informing future work on this topic by the Royal Society, ASSAf, and other stakeholders.

The South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) E&HRU team participated in the 13th World Environmental Health Day Commemoration hosted by the National Department of Health in collaboration with the Alfred Nzo District Municipality and the Eastern Cape Department of Health on 25-26 September 2024 in the Eastern Cape. The theme was “Environmental Health: Creating resilient communities through disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation and adaptation”. An event objective was to provide a platform for Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) and other key stakeholders at various levels to share scientific and operational research to strengthening evidence-based intervention.

Professor Caradee Wright facilitated the discussion in commission 1: Climate Change and Disaster Management.  Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni presented on “A healthy vulnerability Assessment tool (HEAT) to address heat-health vulnerability in South African towns.” Dr Yonela Mkunyana gave an oral presentation entitled “Building resilient communities through wastewater- based epidemiology” in commission 2: Environmental Health and Disease Control.

E&HRU also ran an exhibition stand showcasing research translation material from three core research programmes: Climate Change and Human Health, Persistent Toxic Substance, and Water, Sanitation, and Society. Discussions around local sector challenges and collaborative opportunities ensued.

The Environment & Health Research Unit (E&HRU) recently welcomed a group of researchers from Stanford University, fostering international collaboration to tackle pressing environmental health challenges. This partnership emphasizes the importance of integrating diverse expertise to address issues such as pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The visiting scholars from Stanford University in California (USA) bring innovative approaches and cutting-edge methodologies, enhancing ongoing projects in SAMRC’s wastewater surveillance and research program. By sharing knowledge and resources, this collaboration aims to improve public health outcomes in South Africa, where environmental factors significantly impact community well-being.

During their visit, the Stanford researchers engaged in various activities, including presentations and laboratory tours. These initiatives promote knowledge exchange and build local capacity. Researchers from both institutions will collaborate on studies investigating the links between environmental exposures and health outcomes, paving the way for effective interventions. An online meeting allowed those unable to travel to South Africa to participate in the brainstorming sessions, ensuring inclusive dialogue and collaboration. Through this partnership, the E&HRU and Stanford University are not only advancing research but also working towards actionable solutions that can make a real difference in people's lives. Together, they are committed to creating a healthier future for communities affected by environmental challenges.

This was the World Conference for Epidemiology. The conference focused strongly on health effects.

Dr Chantelle Howlett-Downing presented a poster on a case-crossover study between PM2.5 and hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in Pretoria.

She found the conference very professional and enjoyed being around so many people with the same interests as hers from all over the world. Much of the focus was on identifying problems including sampling strategies to include diversity and age stratification, reducing censoring due to loss to study, proper questionnaires, and the transfer of scientific information to policy. New analysis techniques were not on the program.

Dr Howlett-Downing attended the following workshops and sessions:

The Hack-a-Thon workshop where we designed a new Environmental Epidemiology curriculum. Many of the attendees were lecturers from all over the world. It was very beneficial.

1. Trends and transitions in noncommunicable disease risk factors: data, analytics and implications
2. Re-imagining global health training: towards a more equitable inclusive and just approach to global health exchange
3. Old risk factors in the new era: tobacco, alcohol and physical activity
4. Primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease and beyond in the African continent: opportunities and challenges
5. Is it risky for epidemiologists to be advocates?

Dr. Renée Street recently attended the 8th World One Health Congress in Cape Town, a pivotal event that gathered over 1,400 participants from 87 countries to tackle pressing global health challenges. Spanning four days, the congress featured a robust agenda with sessions focused on One Health science, antimicrobial resistance, and the intersection of science and policy. One Health is an integrated approach recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Dr. Street noted that the congress provided a unique platform for sharing groundbreaking research and fostering discussions on how to address urgent issues like zoonotic diseases and antibiotic resistance, where innovative solutions and strategies from around the world were showcased.

During the conference, a key highlight was emphasizing viewing One Health through an African lens, allowing participants to consider diverse perspectives and local contexts – underscoring the importance of collaboration across sectors. The outcomes of this congress are expected to influence high-level discussions at the upcoming 79th UN Session, emphasizing the need for a unified response to health threats. Upon reflection, Dr. Street believes that the insights gained will be instrumental in shaping future policies and research initiatives in the One Health arena, ultimately promoting a healthier planet for all.

The Africa Climate and Health Responder course is a series of lectures and case studies hosted collaboratively by the WHO, AfricaCDC, CHANCE, Global Network for Academic Public Health, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and Project ECHO. This course will run from 17 September to 22 October and equips African health professionals with the skills to identify, communicate, respond to, and prepare for climate-related health impacts. It is also a platform that hopes to reach and shape young minds, as well as giving back to the youth overall.

On 17 September, Professor Caradee Wright presented on Climate change for the Health Professional and also connected with other researchers present. There were more than 2200 people attending the lecture.

Read more here.

The City of Tshwane (CoT) hosted a Heat Health Response CPD discussion at Tshwane House with other government officials on 16 September 2024. Within the Gauteng province, the health department aims to develop capacity of health care workers based on the research and work being done in the City of Tshwane and the province that emanates from impact of Heat to build case for adaptation and mitigation of heat within communities. In this way, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) will have improved capacity to implement the interventions provided to communities against heat, create more awareness about heat for preparedness and adaptation during extreme weather events (heat waves) and disasters.

Professor Caradee Wright was in attendance and presented on climate change and the impact of heat on health. Further, the Climate Change and Health (CCH) programme is now working on EHP guidelines for the CoT. This puts the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the CCH research team at the forefront of assisting government in creating resilient communities – as the City would like guidance on how to deal with climate change and health for EHPs.

At the Global Evidence Summit 2024, held in Prague from 10-13 September, Dr. Renée Street presented her research on "Translating Basic Science Research into Public Health Impact: Challenges of Wastewater-Based Surveillance Evidence Informing Cholera Outbreak Management." This summit provided a unique platform for global experts to engage in evidence-based practice across various sectors, including health, education, social justice, the environment, and climate change.

Dr. Street's presentation delved into the use of wastewater-based surveillance for monitoring and managing cholera outbreaks. This method involves analyzing wastewater to detect the presence of pathogens like Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium responsible for cholera. By monitoring pathogen levels, public health officials can receive early warnings about potential outbreaks, allowing for timely and targeted interventions. Dr. Renée Street’s work at the summit underscored the vital need for integrating scientific research into practical public health strategies. The event served as a critical opportunity for colleagues from around the world to unite in their mission to tackle pressing issues through evidence-based approaches, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing global challenges.

Dr Chanelle Howlett-Downing presented a poster online: Using dispersion normalised – positive matrix factorisation (DN-PMF) as a sensitivity test for conventional PMF analysis at three towns in South Africa, 2017 -2018.

The conference focused on new atmospheric testing and analysis methods and much of it was very advanced, but significantly exposed environmental epidemiologists to new and refined techniques for air pollution analysis that will refine studies and contribute to validation. The sessions focused on new scientific research that identifies and quantifies the impacts of weather and climate on surface air quality (which is Dr Howlett-Downing’s new focus). As surface air quality is affected by long-range transport and background concentrations of air pollutants (the quandary of mixtures), the conference also explored the impacts of weather and climate on air pollution levels in the free troposphere, or at remote surface locations. Dr Chantelle Howlett-Downing highly recommends these conferences and will apply to attend again next year.

During a two-day workshop hosted by the Wellcome Trust, University of Oxford and the University of Washington in London on 4-6 September 2024, delegates discussed the development of guidelines for Detection and Attribution of Climate Change Impacts on Human Health. The main aims of the workshop were to unpack the need for guidelines to inform high quality research that expands the range of climate change health-related impacts using attribution methods.

In attendance were Professor Caradee Wright and Ms Candice Webster, who valued hearing about cutting-edge climate and health research as well as engaging with Wellcome Trust staff about joint activities to build on current work on overseeing the effectiveness of health adaptation interventions. There is also the possibility of writing a proposal with workshop attendees to do an attribution case study in multiple countries, including South Africa

Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni attended the 55th Annual Conference of the National Association for Clean Air (NACA) held at the Mintek Conference Centre, Johannesburg, between 4-6 September 2024. The conference was themed, “Air quality evolution: Reflecting on 20 years of progress and charting future paths.” This event was held jointly with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE) Air Quality Governance Lekgotla. The aim of the conference was to bring together experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders to reflect on the challenges, accomplishments and lessons learnt in the past 20 years of air quality management in South Africa.

Dr Mahlangeni presented a poster, and a 3-minute research talk entitled, ‘A review of the health impacts associated with coal-fired power stations: Global learnings to help guide policymaking in South Africa.’ Additionally, Dr Mahlangeni had the opportunity to interact with a range of air quality professionals in industry and academia. She also contributed to the conversation on the health impacts of air pollution in vulnerable population groups.

Conceptually, One Health is gaining momentum within the scientific community. Climate change, pollution and toxic exposure is rifer and increasingly negatively impact the environment, animals and humans.

 To this end, Professor Caradee Wright and Dr Busisiwe Shezi presented at the virtual webinar on, ‘One Health in Africa: recognising the environmental role’ – hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) on 20 August 2024. Professor Angela Mathee facilitated the event.

The aim of the webinar was to increase understanding of the status of research and action on One Health in Africa and present selected African case studies. These studies had a particular emphasis on the role of the environment in One Health. Additionally, the webinar aimed to highlight the under-studied relations between environment and health within One Health. Speakers also engaged with priorities and future directions for One Health in Africa. Topics such as climate change and One Health, as well as One Health and Environmental Exposure Science were covered by Professor Wright and Dr Shezi respectively.

In honour of Women’s month this year, the SAMRC Corporate Marketing and Communications and other Divisions launched the ‘Sisterhood Dialogues’ on 8 August 2024 – leading up to the celebration of Women’s Day on 9 August.

The launch brought together women in the organisation based in Cape Town, sharing anecdotal advice on a variety of topics such as navigating careers, motherhood, health, budgeting and relationships – during panellist sessions. E&HRU Scientist, Ms Candice Webster, also graced the stage – advising on matters of the heart.

A palpable feeling of security and sisterhood filled the space, punctuated by moments of vulnerability, as well as laughter throughout the event. The profound words "lift as you rise" by Prof Liesl Zühlke, quoting her mentor, the late Prof Mayosi, resonated deeply with the Women's Day celebration. These words encompass the holistic support system women can create for one another as they balance multifaceted roles.

SAMRC Durban and Pretoria regions shared in the festivities on 16 August.

Guided by its transformation mission, the SAMRC is committed to supporting and empowering its women constituents in the best possible manner and looks forward to hosting more such dialogues going forward.

The Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) hosted a strategic planning meeting in Singapore from 22-26 July 2024 – which aimed to address next steps for the Network in collaboration with various stakeholders – including scientists, policymakers and practitioners.

Attendees – which included the Environment and Health Research Unit’s (E&HRU) Professor Caradee Wright – engaged in robust group discussions and brainstorming during the meeting. Professor Wright also visited the National University of Singapore’s Heat Resilience & Performance Centre at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Work done at the Centre complement the heat and health research conducted in Professor Caradee Wright’s Climate Change and Human Health Programme – within the SAMRC’s Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU). Therefore, Professor Wright hopes that future collaborations will ensue that can advance research done around heat and health.

Environmental health concerns are on the rise, more so considering exposure to various toxic substances such as arsenic, lead and mercury – because of potentially harmful human practices. Therefore, environmental health professionals and other stakeholders must work together frequently to make sure that they are aware of the latest environmental health trends. They also need to be able to find solutions to problems that can come about due to various environmental health impacts that vulnerable communities could face.

The 16th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) is such a platform to come together and share ideas, that occurred from 21-26 July 2024 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. An overall aim of the conference was to address challenges of mercury as a metal that pollutes the environment worldwide. Sessions included workshops on exploring case studies related to finding solutions – and also speaking to the Minamata Convention and biomonitoring.

The E&HRU team attended the pre-conference workshop (on 21 July) and is hopeful to continue mercury research related to projects undertaken within its Persistent Toxic Substance Research Programme  

Amid Mandela Day celebrations on 18 July, Professor Caradee Wright and various interested groups attended a stakeholders’ workshop on climate change and health at the Southern Sun Hotel in Pretoria – hosted by the Wits Reproductive and HIV Institute (RHI).

Initial findings from the High Horizons and Heat Adaptation for Pregnant women and Infants (HAPI) research studies were discussed during the meeting. Attendees actively offered insights and suggestions to approach adaptation and mitigation interventions, while simultaneously exploring responsiveness and opportunities available for improving these strategies. Professor Caradee Wright gave a presentation on best practices for adaptation and looks forward to working with Dr Gloria Maimela and her team – specifically on a District Health Barometer chapter on climate change and health in South Africa.

• Stakehlder Engagement Meeting

Since the United Nations (UN) declared the late former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday an International Day of celebration in 2009, the 18th of July – now known as Mandela Day – has become recognised globally as a day for acts of service and kindness.

The former stateman devoted time to promoting freedom and peace, believing that the South African youth should build on this mission. Traditionally, acts of kindness and service are done – in the true spirit of Ubuntu which is translated as, ‘humanity to others.’ The SAMRC annually commemorates Mandela Day through the distribution of a ‘Jar of Hope.’ This, ‘Jar of Hope’ is a mixture of nutritious staple foods such as rice, soup mix and lentils that can provide a much-needed hearty meal for the less fortunate.

Participating in staff activities such as these is a wonderful way to give back to the community and further strengthens the SAMRC’s commitment to institutional values such as partnering – and more specifically – respect and citizenship.

The EHRU team did exactly this alongside other SAMRC research units on 15 July, in preparation for distribution on Mandela Day this year.

The Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU) does much work on issues relating to wastewater surveillance as well as sanitation – more broadly – and other topics, through the Water, Sanitation and Society Research Programme (WSSRP).

Building on related work, Mr Sizwe Nkambule attended the RRIP Research Symposium and launch on 27-28 June which was hosted by the Future Water Research Institute – at the University of Cape Town (UCT). This programme seeks to encourage technological innovation and understanding people’s relations, wants and needs regarding water.

The launch and symposium were used as a platform to showcase the long-term programme plan, share progress over the first 18 months of the project, and present ongoing student research.

Mr Nkambule gave an oral presentation regarding the work he wishes to undertake in his PhD study (supervised by a PI at the Future Water Research Institute), as well as participating in interactive breakaway sessions to discuss potential research activities linked to the programme’s work streams. There was also an opportunity for Mr Sizwe Nkambule to have discussions with other members of the Institute about how the PhD study could offer insight into their work and vice versa.

Dr Tracey Laban and Mr Ngwako Kwatala attended the Air Quality and Health Workshop organised by groundWork and hosted by Vukani Environmental Movement on 19 June 2024 in Kwaquga township, eMalahleni. These non-governmental organisations focus their work on addressing environmental issues in South Africa and requested the SAMRC to present on specific research done in the Highveld making the link between air quality and health. Dr Laban presented on several ambient and household air pollution studies completed and shared some best practices and lessons learned for health professionals to consider air quality and air-related health impacts among the communities living in the areas they manage. Mr Kwatala gave a demonstration of how low-cost sensors work and their importance for science particularly in resource-restricted settings. Besides this being part of our efforts as researchers in knowledge mobilisation and awareness raising, it afforded the opportunity to suggest and seek reasonable solutions, or even co-create with communities, since not all communities have the resources or agency to reduce air pollution sources.

On 18-21 June 2024, the SAMRC welcomed learners from grades 11-12 – all hailing from local schools here in the Mother City. The initiative seeks to afford youths interested in pursuing careers in medical health research and other related fields, an opportunity to gain firsthand experiences into daily operations of institutions such as the SAMRC.

Stakeholders such as Stellenbosch University (SU), the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and SAMRC research units and platforms partnered together to bring about the third instalment during Youth Month this year.

Months of planning went into achieving the programme, as well as teamwork and a drive to make an impact in the lives of the South African youth.

The E&HRU team presented the groups of learners with a comprehensive programme of activities, demonstrating the work undertaken by the unit in thought-provoking, yet interactive manner.  May these initiatives and others inspire every SAMRC employee to continue doing excellent and impactful work.

Dr Thandi Kapwata attended the Cape Town Urban Heat Seminar organised by the World Bank’s City Resilience Program. The seminar was hosted in partnership with the City of Cape Town and the National Treasury Cities Support Programme, with support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) on 13 June 2024. This event brought together policy makers, civil society organisations and academics to discuss the extent of heat exposure in the city. Associated health risks, implications of this exposure for city strategies, and solutions and suggestions for heat adaptation and mitigation were also discussed. Dr Kapwata presented during the Heat Early Warning Framework seminar session. The talk was titled “How can heat-health thresholds be integrated into Heat-Health Early Warning Systems?” It is hoped that there will be opportunities for further collaboration and strengthening of existing research done within the Climate and Human Health Research Programme – which is housed within the Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU).

Invitation to Cape Town Urban Heat Seminar

The SAMRC Health Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable Groups in Africa (HABVIA) fieldwork team conducted roof inspections and residential surveys from 8-12 July 2024. Roof inspections and residence surveys are crucial for heat-related research as they provide valuable data and insights on various factors influencing heat dynamics in residential areas. Extreme heat has a significant impact on the health of human beings and can affect their productivity.  The selected cohort was interviewed to have an idea of the dwelling their live in and how these absorb or reflect heat during hot seasons. Rooves were inspected to determine if they can be painted or not. Any damages or maintenance required is also considered during inspections. Where necessary, reflective paints will be used as an initial intervention of the selected cohort. The intervention is believed to significantly reduce and improve the health and sleep quality of the occupants, among other factors. 

The Sustainability Research Innovation Congress 2024 conference was held in Helsinki, Finland and hosted by Aalto University, University of Helsinki, Belmont Forum and Future Earth – on 10-14 June. This conference aimed to bring together experts in sustainable science from across the world. It also fostered interaction with a larger audience and collaborating and networking with various attendees and stakeholders.  The conference also gave those in attendance access to grant opportunities. These opportunities are pivotal to grow valuable bodies of research that, in turn, need to be appropriately repackaged in a manner that would assist people on the ground. This is also referred to as research translation or translating research into action.

Conference participants also developed skills of a transdisciplinary nature. The E&HRU’s Professor Caradee Wright presented at a session hosted by the InterAcademy Partnership and Save the Children. During the session, a book of global climate change case studies was also launched.

Professor Wright believes that collaboration will ensue, therefore also growing current project work. Weaving two rows of the climate change and health carpet also provided great enjoyment.

Soccer induces physical exercise which can lead to the mental health and wellbeing of any individual. As a young boy and throughout my life, playing soccer has brought me great joy. Before my entry into the corporate world, I used soccer as a method to regulate my body and exercise. Even as a shy person, through soccer, I made friends growing up and at university.

When soccer was introduced at the SAMRC, I felt very happy and excited to be part of the team. It always feels good to play soccer and practice, as it keeps me active and happy.

I think that soccer is not just a physical game; it also involves significant mental and emotional aspects. It demands a high level of physical fitness, including cardiovascular endurance, strength, agility, and flexibility.  Soccer also fosters mental resilience, emotional wellbeing, and gears you towards an optimal performance mindset. I love soccer because I can keep fit, relieve stress, improve my overall health and socialize with colleagues – apart from doing pivotal work relating to environmental research, wastewater-based epidemiology and citizen science at the SAMRC, as well as the community.

The South African Medical Research Council‘s (SAMRC) Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU) hosted students from Bryant University (Rhode Island, USA) at the SAMRC Conference Centre on the 24th of May 2024, which aimed to provide the students with an overview of health challenges in South Africa (SA). Students were joined by faculty members Professor Stephanie Mott, and Professor Alex Perullo. The agenda consisted of presentations from E&HRU, Burden of Disease Research Unit (BODRU) and Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP).

E&HRU’s Ms Candice Webster gave a detailed breakdown of the structure and function of the SAMRC. Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni provided an overview of projects in E&HRU. Deputy director of BODRU, Dr Makandwe Nyirenda, presented on the research undertaken by the unit and highlighted the challenges with health data in the country. Professor Carmen Pheiffer and Professor Rabia Johnson, interim co-directors of BRIP, highlighted the platform’s innovative research, including work on obesity, diabetes, and tissue culture in SA.  The guests also toured the BRIP state-of-the-art laboratories. This exchange provided students with an opportunity to link what they’ve learnt in class on Global Health Challenges to real-world examples and how those challenges are being addressed.

The Health Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable Groups in Africa (HABVIA) project team meeting took place in Ghana on the 13th of May 2024 to 17th of May 2024 and was held at the University of Ghana in Accra (13 to 15 May 2024) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi (16 to 17 May 2024). Dr Thandi Kapwata (co-investigator), Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni (collaborator) and Mr Dineo Hlagala (project coordinator) of the SAMRC’s E&HRU team attended the meeting as the research team responsible for the study site in Mphego, Thohoyandou in Limpopo province.

Agenda items included feedback on research progress at the four study sites (Ga Mashe, Accra; Nkwantakese outside Kumasi; Site B in Khayelitsha, Cape Town and Mphego, Thohoyandou). The team also discussed and planned project activities for the coming year as well as future studies. Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni and Mr Dineo Hlagala gave an update of the fieldwork activities, challenges, and opportunities. Dr Thandi Kapwata led the session on the Knowledge Products work package and co-led a session on data-capturing software REDCap. The project team also visited the study sites in Ga Mashe and Nkwantakese and interacted with study participants and local communities.

As a member of the World Health Organization’s Technical Advisory Group, Professor Caradee Wright attended the first in-person meeting on Embedding Ethics in Health and Climate Change Policy. It was held from 6-7 May 2024 at the Brocher Foundation in Hermanz, Switzerland.

This meeting was hosted by the World Health Organization and the Brocher Foundation. Considerations of the rights and responsibilities held by various stakeholders in ethical decision-making were noted. Members further advised the Secretariat on the development of evidence gathering methodologies – referencing case studies designed to identify the practical ethical challenges arising for health and research stakeholders responding to climate change – while also drafting supporting tools and similar mechanisms which support inclusion of ethical considerations in policy and decision making relating to climate change and health. Reviewing and recommendations on the final tools, frameworks and dissemination strategies also formed part of the technical advisory group’s deliberations.

Members of the Technical Advisory Committee will continue collaborating on identifying ethical issues in tools, strategies and policies related to climate change and health. Professor Wright valued the opportunity to address potential ethical issues in her case studies, simultaneously appreciating Brocher Foundation’s picturesque views.

On 6 May, the Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU) team in Cape Town had the privilege of hosting Professor Gwen Collman from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), USA.  A meeting was arranged to delve into environmental health research conducted at each institution – with a key focus on climate change and health. The session included an overview of the E&HRU work presented by Dr. Renee Street, the Unit Director. Following this, Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni highlighted projects undertaken by the E&HRU Climate Change and Health Research Programme – led by Professor Caradee Wright. Professor Collman then shared insights with the team on the work of NIEHS and their research priority areas. These presentations served as a pivotal moment for the group to engage in discussions about ongoing research and future opportunities, with a particular focus on community engagement and the impacts of climate change on health.

Dr Renée Street recently attended the INGSA2024 conference, organized by the International Network for Governmental Science Advice. The conference, themed "The Transformation Imperative," tackled the pressing need for robust knowledge in policy-making in our post-Covid, climate-shifted, and digitally evolving world. Dr Street noted the significance of this event, attracting participants from various sectors including academia, policymaking, diplomacy, and the private sector. The conference aimed to address the complexities accompanying the imperative for robust knowledge in policy-making by focusing on emerging theories and evolving practices of inclusion and diversity in science advice provided to governments. Dr Street found the discussions particularly insightful, as they delved into questions surrounding the development, objectives, and reception of a more interconnected and inclusive approach to science advice.

Dr Street’s leadership position underscores dedication to advancing science advice across the African continent and highlights INGSA’s commitment to fostering collaboration and inclusivity within the field, remaining relevant and impactful in addressing the region's unique challenges and opportunities. Overall, Dr Street found the INGSA2024 conference to be a valuable platform for exchanging ideas and fostering collaboration among stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, ultimately contributing to more effective and inclusive science advice for governments.

Committee members of the Health Effects Institute met on 27-30 April 2024 in Philadelphia to discuss HEI activities and the annual conference, which covered a range of topics – hosted by the HEI.

Professor Caradee Wright participated in the Global Health Oversight Committee meeting, as well as the East Africa air pollution and health meeting. Through the work with East Africa and air pollution and health, Professor Wright is hopeful that future collaborations will ensue that complement the work done by the E&HRU – within its Climate Change and Human Health Research Programme. Professor Wright was also impressed by the excellent, young scientists in attendance at the conference.  

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Climate Change and Health Scholars – class of 2024 – attended the first in-person meeting on climate and health in Bethesda, Maryland, USA on 26 April.

Members of the NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative (CCH) were also present at the meeting, which provided an opportunity for Scholars, NIH CCH Working Group members and other NIH staff to meet each other and to share ideas. The event – hosted by the NIH – also facilitated multidisciplinary interactions in relation to the Scholars’ areas of expertise and science topics within the NIH mission, which sparked a synergistic approach to identify priorities, gaps, and challenges in climate change and health issues related to the CCH Framework strategic plan.

Attendees participated in presentations and group discussions. Professor Caradee Wright is hopeful that the meeting will lead to collaborations in future between Scholars and is currently working on preparing a scoping review and developing a framework as part of her Scholar’s work. Excellent science being done in climate change and health research stood out to Professor Wright and serves as a motivation to continue producing similar work of a high standard.  

Dr Renée Street has been named by the Rockefeller Foundation as one of four women pioneering advancements in global wastewater surveillance.

As climate change alters global disease patterns and triggers cross-species viral transmissions, wastewater epidemiology has emerged as a critical tool in the public health field.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Street and her team navigated the challenges of sample collection and analysis, so that public health officials could get usable and reliable results on a weekly basis. The SAMRC Wastewater Surveillance and Research Programme is a collaboration between the E&HRU, Biomedical Research Innovation Platform (BRIP) and Genomics Platform. Lab technicians from historically disadvantaged institutions were also trained in sampling and analysis methods.

After a cholera outbreak hit the country in May 2023, the research focus shifted to being able to detect it. This year the team pivoted again, which led to introducing a multi-pathogen panel that looks at 24 different pathogens – worsening due to climate change.

“Tracking pathogens through wastewater surveillance is about staying ahead of outbreaks to protect communities from public health threats.”

Read more | HERE

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) convened a workshop focused on microbial risk assessment from 16-18 April, in Cape Town. Key experts and stakeholders were brought together. Guided by the FOA’s expertise, the workshop provided a platform for intensive discussion and knowledge exchange.  Dr Renée Street’s participation was marked by her insightful contributions and unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge in microbial risk assessment – particularly under a One Health Framework.  From exploring the fundamentals of risk analysis to exploring latest advancements in the risk assessment methodologies, participants gained invaluable insights into safeguarding food systems from microbial hazards. The workshop also fostered an environment of collaboration and shared learning. Attendees, representing diverse sectors and regions, brought their unique perspectives to the table, enriching discussions and contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in microbial risk assessment.

Dr Tracey Laban attended the Clean Air Fund Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on 11 April 2024 in Kempton Park, Gauteng. The Clean Air Fund (CAF) is a philanthropic organisation that works with governments, funders, businesses and campaigners in tackling global air pollution. Its workshop brought together stakeholders in the air quality community to introduce and solicit input on development of CAF’s strategy for South Africa. The strategy focuses on three areas of work: data (putting compelling evidence in the right hands), demand (growing public awareness) and drive (influencing decision-makers to commit to clean air targets). As part of their initial work, CAF presented on the Breathe Cities initiative in the City of Johannesburg in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and C40. One of the activities proposed under Breathe Cities Johannesburg is quantifying the public health impacts of poor air quality in Johannesburg which aligns with the strategic goals of E&HRU, as well as a potential funding source, to do this work. Dr Laban also participated in a panel discussion representing the community, youth, government and research organisations and shared her thoughts on what research institutions needed to do to create greater public awareness on the health impacts of air pollution.

Youth unemployment is rife in lower-and middle-income countries (LiMiCs) such as South Africa and others – particularly on the African continent. This social ill is compounded by challenges brought about by mental health conditions such as depression.

In a concerted effort to address these prevalent social, psychological and environmental challenges, the Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) study was born. The first project kick-off meeting was hosted by the University of Pretoria (UP) and occurred from 8-11 April 2024 at the Mongena Lodge, Dinokeng. Project collaborators – which included multiple institutions in South Africa and Nigeria, as well as SADAG (South African Depression and Anxiety Group) and REPSSI (an NGO) – spent time planning for the project; in understanding project aims and objectives, assigning tasks, deciding on deliverables, as well as discussing milestones. The teamwork demonstrated during this planning session was of particular significance to Professor Caradee Wright.

Through the work of Professor Wright and her team, the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) E&HRU will be involved with the project for the next five years.

The SAMRC E&HRU is one of the collaborators with University of Cape Town (UCT) on the Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable Groups in Africa (HABVIA) project funded by the Wellcome Trust.

HABVIA aims to address evidence gaps by gathering high-quality cohort data on physiological and mental health, alongside climate, environmental, and socio-economic information, in four heat-vulnerable study sites in South Africa and Ghana. The four study sites are in Ga Mashe in Accra, Ghana; Nkwantakese in Kumasi, Ghana; Site B in Khayelitsha in Cape Town, South Africa and Mphego Village in Thohoyandou, South Africa. HABVIA will also build local community awareness raising and capacity for heat adaptation.

Dr Thandi Kapwata from the SAMRC’s E&HRU leads the site in Thohoyandou in the Limpopo Province. Research activities commenced in April 2023 and will continue until March 2027. During the first phase of the study, the E&HRU field staff visited households to invite the community members to participate in the study. Once recruitment was completed, a health survey was conducted and health measurements as well as environmental data were collected.

Some of the HABVIA team members at the launch of the project at UCT

HABVIA field team in Mpegho, Thohoyandou

Dr Renée Street attended the launch of the Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health. This initiative aims to establish an international system for early detection, prevention, and real-time monitoring of epidemic threats and outbreaks. The inaugural event, held on 19 and 20 March in Brussels, gathered over 300 key collaborators, including organizations such as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Both in-person and virtual attendance were features of the event, bringing together diverse representatives from health ministries, NGOs, industry, research institutions and public health bodies. Discussions covered aspects of the consortium, including sampling procedures, testing protocols, data management, capacity building and research and innovation. GLOWACON is well positioned to identify and align funding opportunities for global health surveillance efforts.

The Clean Air Fund Board and Grants and Charitable Activities Committee Annual Meeting took place from 11-13 March 2024 in London, UK hosted by the Clean Air Fund. Presentations on the Fund’s progress was the order of the event – which doubled up as a workshop. Board members were also given an opportunity to share feedback based on the progress reporting session.

Professor Caradee Wright participated in various sessions for brainstorming funding opportunities in air pollution and health, who is hopeful in securing funding from the Clean Air Fund – furthering research on air pollution.

In the UK, air pollution has been recorded as a cause of death – therefore, Ms Rosamund Debra-Kissi was invited as a guest speaker at the event, relating what had befallen her daughter. Read more on her story here.

The training workshop on air pollution exposure monitoring and respiratory health was attended by Professor Caradee Wright in Nairobi, Kenya – from 6-9 March 2024 and hosted by the Eastern Africa GEOHealth Hub. This workshop was held to share progress made by the Hub on research relating to air pollution and respiratory health.

Professor Wright presented on the research conducted over nearly a decade – at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Climate Change and Health Programme – housed within the Environment & Health Research (E&HRU). Postgraduate student engagement made an impression on Professor Caradee Wright, who is hopeful of tapping into the young minds of researchers interested in joining within her team.

Read here for further information on the work done by the GEOHealth Hub.

Dr Tracey Laban represented the SAMRC’s E&HRU at the community feedback sessions in Agincourt (Bushbuckridge) and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (Soweto) from 28 February to 5 March 2024 for the LEAP-Epi project.

The aim was to create awareness on health impacts of household air pollution and to share the project findings with the study participants and community advisory board members. Dr Laban gave a presentation on air pollution and its health effects and participated in the question-and-answer sessions regarding levels of air pollution and exposure in homes – engaging with individual community members on their issues of concern. There is no accurate knowledge of exposure to ambient and household air pollution for large numbers of people in urban and rural South Africa. Therefore, this project is quite significant (which is in partnership with University of Leicester, Wits University, North-West University) – as it provides an opportunity to gather much-needed exposure data from low-cost samplers and surveys – that can be linked with health outcomes to improve burden of disease estimates for household air pollution in South Africa. Such data will also have applicability more broadly to sub-Saharan Africa and other low- or middle-income countries – contributing to ongoing research and publications. The project is expected to be finalised at the end of March 2024.

Presentation at Adonai Church, Agincourt

Presentation at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto

Explaining the different types of particulate matter and sources of air pollution

The Environmental & Health Research (E&HRU) team visited the Usinga SAPRIN Node in Durban, on 27th February 2024. The purpose of this event was to learn about the Usinga project's initiatives in the uMlazi community, to showcase SAPRIN's work and explore potential collaboration opportunities, particularly in conducting wastewater surveillance studies in the same area.

During the event, the SAPRIN team provided insights into their ongoing work in uMlazi. Following this, the EHRU team joined the fieldwork in uMlazi. This provided an opportunity to meet other team members and observe the condition of the uMlazi River, including nearby activities. This also allowed the EHRU team to identify potential threats to the uMlazi River; although the river may not be used for drinking, it is utilized by children for swimming and domestic purposes like laundry.

The importance of community engagement was emphasized throughout the visit, with the Usinga project employing over 60 community members in various roles. This not only builds trust but also demonstrates the community's involvement and support for the project. Witnessing this trust firsthand during interactions with community members further underscored the significance of community engagement in research initiatives.

Professor Caradee Wright (Chief Specialist Scientist), Dr Thandi Kapwata (Specialist Scientist) and Ms Candice Webster (Scientist) of the Climate Change and Health Research Programme: E&HRU, attended a retreat for the “State of data science in Africa” writing project which took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 26 February to 1 March 2024. This project is supported by the NIH, APHRC and several partner organizations and its aim is to produce a collection of scientific papers describing the state of data science for health in Africa – to be published in the Nature portfolio of journals. The E&HRU team leads two review articles focusing on the application of data science in investigating climate change and air pollution related health challenges in Africa.

During the retreat, teams were provided dedicated writing time, opportunities to engage with other teams on overlapping topics and an opportunity to map the way forward to final submission. The E&HRU team is grateful for the opportunity to engage with the other writing teams and the project’s scientific co-chairs and believes its contribution to the collection will provide valuable insight into the importance of data science in environment and health research in Africa.

The Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU) visited the abandoned wastewater treatment works (WWTW) plant on 9 February in Franschhoek, hosted by the UCT Future Water team – led by Dr Kevin Winter – who showcased the application of nature-based solutions (NbS) in rehabilitating Stiebeuelrivier. By using biofilters (with vegetation, stones, and biochar) to clean and treat water from contaminated surface water runoff originating from an informal settlement (Langrug) upstream, the researchers demonstrated a tangible approach to environmental remediation.

One highlight was the demonstration of the biofiltration systems used in treating the contaminated water. Comparing treated and untreated water for crop irrigation provided a practical illustration of the efficacy of biofiltration systems. inspiring the broader community about the potential of nature-based solutions in water management and environmental conservation.   Overall, the event served as a platform for showcasing innovative research, fostering future collaboration and camaraderie.

Other projects like the 'Cool' Shack project added further dimensions to the event, showing a holistic approach to addressing environmental and social challenges in informal settlements and raising awareness about the importance of nature-based solutions in environmental remediation and sustainable water management.

The Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU) team recently convened a pivotal strategic planning meeting from 5-8 February 2024, in Noordhoek Cape Town. Each day was planned to provide a blend of introspective reflection and strategic foresight, ensuring each E&HRU team member could contribute to and benefit from the discussions at hand. With a clear strategic plan in place, the E&HRU is equipped to advance their research agenda, aiming to make significant contributions to the field of environmental health. The team left Noordhoek with a collection optimism, ready to embark on a year of meaningful research, impactful collaborations and continued personal and professional growth.

E&HRU chief specialist scientist Professor Caradee Wright attended a kick-off meeting for the PLANET4HEALTH project in Venice Italy between 25-26 January – facilitated by Ca’ Foscari University.

The project is funded by a Horizon Europe grant – enabling all teams to meet and present case studies and work packages, for the next four years – as PLANET4HEALTH seeks to make planetary health research understandable to the public and policymakers using the applications and platforms. With such a large but cohesive cohort, Professor Wright is confident that South Africa’s case study on air pollution and health can be used to develop a new tool for its citizens.

In a dynamic session at the recent South African Science Forum (4-6 December 2023), Dr Renée Street shared insights into the transformative role of wastewater-based epidemiology in supporting public health. Dr Street highlighted the need for further exploration and investment into this promising field, particularly as a key component to bolster pandemic preparedness. The session, moderated by Dr Bernd Gawlik of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), brought together global leaders. The collaborative efforts showcased in this session underscore the importance of a global alliance in advancing public health and environmental monitoring.

Between 4 and 8 December, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research International Convention Centre (CSIR) hosted the South Africa Science Forum – in Pretoria – together with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa Initiative.

The event showcased what role science, technology and innovation play in society –in partnership with government and other stakeholders which include: the scientific community, industry, students, and civil society.

Mr Sizwe Nkambule ran an exhibition stand showcasing how wastewater-based epidemiology relates to science – also emphasizing technology and innovation programmes set out in the Decadal Plan: including the ‘Innovation for a healthy population’ – which focuses on pandemics. There was also an activity capturing delegates’ responses around water-related issues.

The Environment &Health Research Unit’s (E&HRU) Wastewater Surveillance and Research Programme exhibition demonstrated wastewater-based epidemiology’s potential as a health screening tool in effectively communicating results to public health stakeholders and the public. Stakeholders from various government, private sector, scientific and higher education institutions expressed interest in using wastewater-based epidemiology to align with their work. Throughout the Science Forum, many high school students were noted, indicating an interest in science and innovation among the country’s youth population.

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) hosted the BRICS Academies Forum 2023, in Pretoria on 1-2 December – as part of an Inter-Academy Collaboration on the Global Polycrisis. This conference aimed to bring all BRICS countries’ academies together to present their perspectives and understanding of the polycrisis (in relation to the pandemic and economic challenges). The conference was also a platform for the represented BRICS academies to offer solutions to the polycrisis, as well as initiate collaboration in combatting the polycrisis – enforcing the sense of collegiality among the BRICS academies. As part of the ASSAf delegation, Professor Caradee Wright gave a presentation on the impacts of the polycrisis on human health in BRICS countries.

The North-West University hosted a workshop on: The Changing Landscape of occupational hygiene: Challenges and opportunities presented by real time exposure data, on 29-30 November 2023.

Along with other practitioners, Dr Busisiwe Shezi attended a workshop and toured the Occupational Hygiene and Health Research Initiative (OHHRI) on campus – in Potchefstroom. Equipment measuring environmental and occupational exposure – including ergonomic, noise, ventilation and air pollution assessments were displayed. Current trends in occupational hygiene were also highlighted – emphasizing the use of real-time exposure data.

Dr Shezi gained insights into advanced data collection techniques; applicable for environmental and occupational exposure assessments – beneficial for future projects. Challenges with real-time data were addressed – facilitating networking between those in the field of environmental and occupational health.

Dr Thandi Kapwata visited the Application Laboratory in JAMSTEC in Yokohama, Japan, from 27 November to 2 December 2023, as a part of an ongoing JSPS-NRF bilateral project. During this meeting, Dr Kapwata presented at the APL-CMCC Workshop on “Empowering Human Wellbeing through Advances in Climate Analysis and Prediction” held on 29-30 November 2023. Lessons learned during interactions with colleagues at this time will also be utilised to inform existing work dealing with climate related research with the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU). It is also hoped that further collaborations will result with stakeholders involved in this project.

On 9 November 2023, The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) hosted its member conference at the Lord Charles Hotel in Cape Town. The conference centred around the topic of ‘Mitigating the polycrisis – An ASSAf approach.’  Participants at the conference discussed ways in which polycrises such as the pandemic and economic downturns affecting South Africa can be addressed.

During the conference, there were various activities such as group discussions. Professor Caradee Wright, who was in attendance, chaired one such discussion on mitigating the causes and consequences of the polycrisis in South Africa and presented the group’s discussion to the plenary.

Dr Renée Street was invited as a guest speaker to attend the Global Convening to Scale Wastewater Surveillance, which took place in Hong Kong on 25-26 October 2023. The technical convening, organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trust – with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, focused on sharing scientific experiences related to wastewater-based epidemiology. Dr Street joined leading scientists in environmental microbiology, epidemiology and engineering from around the world, to discuss the surveillance and monitoring of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in wastewater. The event included keynote presentations, plenary discussions, and roundtable sessions (covering topics such as initiation, coordination and implementation of wastewater surveillance, mapping and sampling, leveraging surveillance data for big data analytics, and laboratory methods from qPCR and meta-genomics). Dr Renée Street’s participation contributed a critical perspective to the global conversation on wastewater surveillance. Moreover, the global convening emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing global health though wastewater surveillance.

As an Advisory Committee member of the One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre in Africa (OHRECA) (https://www.ilri.org/research/facilities/one-health-centre-africa), Professor Caradee Wright attended the 2-day meeting on the 2nd and 3rd October 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. OHRECA is hosted by the International Research Livestock Institute and aims to enhance animal, human and the environment health by supporting applied research in one health, developing capacity in one health and developing pathways from policy to practice. Having existed for three years, and with two years still to go, the Advisory Committee met to receive feedback on OHRECA from the Team Leaders and postgraduate students working on OHRECA work packages. As the SAMRC plans to develop research in the area of one health, this was an excellent opportunity for Professor Wright to garner knowledge on the issues facing Africa in one health and identify research gaps.

Around the world, there is growing concern about our changing environment. For example, climate change and rising temperatures contribute to the movement of zoonotic hosts and vectors to different elevations and latitudes, bringing unfamiliar exposures to vulnerable human and animal populations. At the same time, adverse weather events may compromise the fundamental pillars of public health, such as floods – leading to the overflow of wastewater treatment facilities and consequent waterborne disease outbreaks. There is also growing concern about the accumulation of persistent toxic substances in the environment and in the fatty tissues of animals, that lead to distribution of pollutants to humans through the food pathway, such as metals in fish, for example.

In recent decades, there has been a growing realization that addressing these complex environmental and health challenges requires a systematic approach. The One Health approach encompasses the interconnection of environmental, animal, and human health as key outcomes. It provides a holistic framework to engage with these challenges in an integrated way, ensuring the well-being of all living beings and our shared environment.

This year, in conjunction with World Environmental Health Day, the Environment & Health Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council, (SAMRC) in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), hosted a seminar. The event was organized to learn more about various activities and actions taking place in relation to Chemical Exposures, Air Pollution, Climate Change and One Health. It also aimed to develop a research agenda on One Health. The seminar brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from various government departments (such as  the Department of Health, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development), the City of Johannesburg, the Water Research Commission, the National Research Foundation, National Institute for Occupational Health, the South African Lead Task Team, several universities (the universities of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch, the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe and the University of Antwerp in Belgium), as well as non-governmental organizations such as Birdlife South Africa and Four Paws.

This seminar provided a platform for exchanging information and sparked insightful discussions aimed at advancing the field of One Health in South Africa. Additionally, we identified key research areas of priority within the domain of One Health.

The seminar was made possible through sponsorship from the National Research Foundation and the South African Medical Research Council.

On 17 to 21 September 2023, Dr Busisiwe Shezi attended the 35th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology in Kaohsiung, Taiwan – being one of the recipients of the Wartenberg travel award. The International Society for Environmental Epidemiology hosted the event, and its theme was on, “Connecting the East and the West, One Health in One Planet.”

Dr Shezi presented a research paper on, “Indoor particulate matter heavy metals and their potential health risks in low socio-economic communities.” She also gained invaluable insights into cutting-edge methodologies and approaches for evaluating health outcomes and their determinants, noting that these innovative techniques not only broaden the horizons of her current research projects, but also provide a forward-looking perspective on approaching future studies. Furthermore, awardees discussed their areas of research and explored the potential for collaborative work. This interaction was significant as it allowed opportunities to connect with professionals with shared research interests, as well as facilitating networking within the field of One Health.

Dr Busisiwe Shezi participated in the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA 2023) Conference in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in Gqeberha, on 10 to 13 September 2023. The event was hosted by the Public Health Association of South Africa and had the theme of, “Transforming Research Translation-Reimagining Public Health Evidence, Policies and Practice.”

Dr Shezi presented a research paper on, “Indoor particulate matter heavy metals and their potential health risks in low socio-economic communities” and saw the conference as a platform for the exchange of research findings, methodologies, and best practices in the field of public health. This directly aligns with Dr Shezi’s current research interests and is invaluable. Additionally, Dr Busisiwe Shezi found the planetary session on, “strengthening health systems to deliver quality mental health care” particularly noteworthy.

Between 5 and 7 September 2023, Professor Caradee Wright attended the Inter Academy Partnership (IAP) and Save The Children’s workshop on Climate Change and Health in Trieste, Italy. Professor Wright was selected as one of 15 participants to present a case study on heat-health interventions. Her case study was focussed on interventions to prevent adverse heat-health impacts in healthcare settings in rural South Africa, aligning with the SAMRC’s efforts related to the National Health Action Plan.  The case studies of all participants will be compiled into a book published by IAP that presents science-based policy solutions for climate change and health challenges. This workshop was hosted by IAP at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics. Highlights of the workshop were the collegiality between the case study participants, a delicious Italian pizza in the town of Trieste, and helpful feedback from the reviewers for improvement of the case studies ahead of publication.

Dr Renée Street and Dr Busisiwe Shezi actively participated in a One Health Workshop from 4 – 7 September 2023 led by the National Department of Health. This workshop aimed to strengthen collaboration in the animal-human-environment interface and harmonize the South African One Health strategy with the global One Health Joint Plan of Action of the Quadripartite (FAO, UNEP, WHO, OIE). Given the profound interconnections between animal and ecosystem health, notably underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative signifies South Africa’s commitment to such a global endeavor. Therefore, South Africa is actively refining its national One Health Strategic Framework to align with the global strategy and policy. The initiative is fostering collaborations among stakeholders at national, regional and international levels.

Professor Caradee Wright, Dr Thandi Kapwata and Dr Tracey Laban attended the LEAP-Epi Outputs Workshop from 29 August to 1 September 2023 in Muldersdrift, Gauteng. LEAP-Epi is a four-year project (which will end in March 2024) on leveraging local air pollution data for epidemiological research. Air quality data was collected using low-cost sensors along with survey questionnaire data from households in two locations (Soweto – urban and Agincourt – rural) over two seasons. The aim of the workshop was to capture the learnings from the field, take a deep dive into the data, plan the journal articles to be written, develop the community feedback strategy and information materials and agree on future directions for the research. The consortium involved in the project are University of Leicester, Wits University, North-West University and SAMRC. It was a productive week of contributions by all project partners, made more enriching by the in-person interactions and capacity building sessions where introduction to R to process questionnaire data, tips to build academic writing skills and guest speaker presentations on epidemiological research formed part of the programme.

The City of Tshwane is concerned about air pollution in the city. Therefore, they hosted an Air Quality Workshop at Tshwane House on 28 August 2023. The theme was: "Climate Action Plan: A net-zero carbon and climate resilient city by 2050.” Professor Caradee Wright presented at the first session of the day in the session on Research Community, speaking about, “Air Pollution and Health in South Africa.” The presentation discussed the inequities associated with health pollution exposure and the associated burden of disease in South Africa. Professor Wright also spoke about air quality levels in the City of Tshwane and its association with hospital admissions for respiratory disease. The presentation received positive responses; connections made at the workshop will lead to future collaborations, as well as overall environmental changes within the municipality.

Dr Tracey Laban and Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni attended the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Advisory Forum meeting on 24 August 2023, hosted by the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre, in Cape Town. The quarterly meetings aim to create a platform for muti-sectoral integration towards disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and recovery. Various disaster management stakeholders in the Western Cape came together to discuss disaster management activities across the province as well as lessons learnt from previous disasters. More importantly, the need for improved early warning systems also formed part of the forum discussions. Added to this, the meeting highlighted the importance of addressing risk reduction and adaptation to reduce the vulnerabilities to disasters. Therefore, our team has subsequently reviewed the Western Cape Hazmat Response Plan, to ensure climate change is addressed in the plan. Suggestions have also been tabled for a response to floods and wildfires to be included in the plan.

Professor Caradee Wright and Dr Thandi Kapwata attended a meeting of the Climate Change and Environment Working Group meeting of the Lancet Commission on Future of Health and Economic Resiliency in Africa (FHERA). The meeting was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 21 to 23 August 2023. It was a writing workshop. The writing workshop’s main objectives were to finalize several manuscripts that are being prepared by the working group. Additionally, draft chapters for a book that has been planned by FHERA Core Panel and to chart next steps for future activities of the working group were also part of the agenda of things needing further preparation.

The Environment and Health Research Unit (E&HRU) scientists went on an annual writing retreat from July 31  to August 4, 2023 – which was hosted at the Intundla Game Lodge, located on the outskirts of Pretoria. Its location added an extra layer of inspiration to the retreat, given the lodge’s picturesque surroundings which fostered a blend of productivity and tranquillity.

During the retreat, the team engaged in intensive writing sessions and harnessed the power of collective focus and expertise to advance their ongoing research endeavors. Sharing ideas, brainstorming and exploring potential avenues for collaborative projects were the order of the day.  The retreat also featured an educational session that enhanced the team’s skills and knowledge for crafting effective policy briefs – which is an essential aspect of scientific communication.  

During mealtimes, the group gathered together to discuss their progress, share challenges and celebrate accomplishments which solidified camaraderie beyond the academic sphere. Additionally, the group walk added an element of enjoyment to the retreat, where informal discussions touching on different topics ranging from personal experiences, shared interests and aspirations were had. The 2023 writing retreat was a success; scientists provided positive feedback overall. We are looking forward to the 2024 edition!

In July 2023, Dr Renée Street attended the Clim-Health Africa event which took place in Libreville, Gabon. The main objective of the 2023 Clim-Health Africa meeting was to build on the 2017 roundtable recommendations, as well as the work done by the consortium partners. Discussions around emergency prevention and management actors in Africa regarding more collaborative work in the region also formed part of the meeting. Dr Street actively provided insights on the capacity building needs for the multisectoral work necessary to properly consider the climate dimension in the resilience of health systems. The meeting also allowed partners to discuss emerging issues and how to make climate services and the Clim-Health Africa Network more responsive to both emerging policy agendas and user needs in Africa.

The recent presidential health summit has identified pandemic preparedness as one of the pillars of the presidential social health compact – which requires the implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR). IDSR is a strategy adopted by countries in the WHO African Region for implementing comprehensive public health surveillance and response systems for priority diseases, conditions and events at all levels of health systems. In July 2023, Dr Renée Street participated in an intensive 5-day workshop to adapt the 3rd edition of the IDSR to the South African context. Active contributions were made to the review of the current surveillance system and the development of a strategic framework to strengthen the national surveillance and response system. This will improve the detection of priority diseases and public health events on time, allowing prompt initiation of requisite investigations and responses to reduce associated morbidity and mortality.

IDSR workshop, July 2023 

The UN Summer Academy is a dynamic, connected and engaging critical global forum for advancing sustainable development. The one-week virtual learning experience, which took place in June 2023, provided a platform to foster inclusive exchanges to build skills and knowledge to address global challenges. Participants engaged in robust discussions and knowledge exchanges on ‘Governance for Sustainable Development.’ Its sub-themes included Multilevel Governance, Green and Just Transitions, and Governance for the Future; identified as critical focus areas of the governance lever for sustainable development. Dr Renée Street was grateful for the opportunity to obtain a scholarship to attend the virtual meeting.

The Journal of Health and Pollution (JHP) has been relaunched by Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) and aims to to publish high-quality research, reviews, and commentaries that address environmental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) or indigenous communities. Additionally, the original mission of JHP was to facilitate a discussion of toxic pollution and its impacts to human health. The journal will therefore continue this work in its new iteration, with “pollution” defined more broadly to include a wider range of environmental health topics of interest to scientists and policy makers. Professor Caradee Wright initially served on the advisory committee to help shape the scope of JHP and was then nominated and selected as one of six Deputy Editors for the journal – on 6 June 2023. Given Professor Wright’s extensive knowledge working on environmental health issues in Africa, especially regarding air pollution and climate change-related health impacts, she will greatly enhance the content of JHP. Moreover, with her vast experience serving as associate editor and editor in chief of various national and international journals, Professor Wright will ensure that the quality of articles published by JHP will be of the highest quality and contribute towards policy development as well as guide future research.

Dr Renée Street has been appointed as wastewater-based epidemiology Section Editor for the Journal of Water and Health. Given her extensive expertise in studying the presence of pathogens and chemicals in the environment, Dr Street’s appointment brings immense value to the journal. In her role as Section Editor, Dr Street will oversee the publication of cutting-edge research papers on wastewater-based epidemiology – ensuring the dissemination of high-quality and impactful studies. This appointment reflects the growing recognition of the significance of wastewater-based epidemiology, to monitor disease outbreaks and guide public health interventions. Dr Street’s leadership is poised to advance the journal’s role in shaping policy and practice related to water and health issues globally.

The Uganda National Academy of Science (UNAS) has invited Dr Renée Street to join a committee of experts dedicated to climate change, preparedness, response and action.  Climate change presents a unique opportunity for Uganda to reimagine how it responds to persistent development challenges. This study will use a climate change perspective to foster greater ownership and more sustainable community action enhancing national resilience and development.

The committee of experts will assess and analyze existing scientific evidence related to climate change, preparedness, response and action. The study aims to reach a collective agreement on the most crucial aspects of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. The findings of the study can guide key stakeholders including policy makers and communities in formulating effective measures to address and respond to the challenges posed by climate change.

In celebration of Youth Month in June, the E&HRU (along with other research units and support divisions), participated in the Gen S Job-shadowing Programme. It was hosted by the Corporate and Marketing Communications department from 26 to 29 June 2023 – taking place at the SAMRC’s Cape Town campus in the Western Cape.

This Gen S Job-shadowing Programme offered a way to shape potential up-and-coming scientists’ minds, so that they are equipped for contributing meaningfully within the scientific community. The Programme also aimed to give the learners practical experience by involving them in day-to-day research work and support staff duties.

The E&HRU team demonstrated different technology and equipment used to test water quality. During fieldwork, the importance of rivers and estuaries for environmental and public health was highlighted. Work within the Wastewater Surveillance and Research Programme (WSARP) was also showcased. Learners developed and presented a knowledge mobilization plan to raise awareness on an environmental issue – within their own community; guided by the E&HRU team. They were also shown how to construct experiments and develop hypotheses for a water filtration experiment. The team was pleased that perceptions around scientific research and creating a safe and healthy environment were reshaped through this event.

The E&HRU made great strides regarding the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, since the COVID-19 pandemic began – to curb its spread. Now, similar efforts are being made to fight against South Africa’s current cholera outbreak.

E&HRU representatives, Dr Renée Street and Mr Sizwe Nkambule, addressed stakeholders during a consultative meeting held in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality – at their Gqeberha offices in the Eastern Cape province. The Department of Public Health in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality hosted the event on 8 June 2023. Results and trends on wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 RNA were shared at the consultive meeting – for public health purposes. A Nelson Mandela University laboratory facilities tour then followed.

Mr Nkambule delivered a presentation focussing on the SARS-CoV-2 RNA signal in wastewater data, which aligned with different COVID-19 resurgences. The E&HRU also affirmed its strong commitment to increasing capacity to support the municipality’s pandemic preparedness. Dr Street further highlighted that collaborating with various departments within the municipality and determining how the wastewater surveillance platform is used for stakeholders’ needs, is essential. Discussions between the SAMRC, NMU and the municipality will continue regarding offering support to the municipality’s current cholera surveillance efforts.

Professor Caradee Wright, Dr Tracey Laban and Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni participated in the sub-committee meeting of the National Department of Health (NDOH) focus group meeting on Health Air Quality and Health, which planned and developed a strategy in relation to air quality and health in South Africa – hosted at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)’s Pretoria campus on 2 June 2023.

The strategy’s 5-year plan was discussed. Identifying stakeholders, promoting the development strategy and gathering information useful to the state, professionals, practitioners and other researchers, also formed part of meeting discussions. Representatives from the NDOH – Elliot Nontso and Bono Nemukula; including Joyce Shirinde from the University of Pretoria (UP), worked with Professor Wright and her team in formulating a proposal detailing a strategy to combat issues on air pollution and health.

The SAMRC, in collaboration with the National Department of Health and other stakeholders, are uniting in the fight against air pollution and its negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of citizens. After the strategy’s development, the SAMRC will continue to assist government and facilitate its implementation. Additionally, the strategy will identify research gaps and opportunities which will help inform current research within the Environment and Health Research Unit (EHRU).

Dr Caradee Wright attended the annual Health Effects Institute (HEI) conference in Boston, in the United States of America – from 30 April 2023 to 2 May 2023. The conference was hosted by the Health Effects Institute and focused on discussing and sharing the latest research relating to air pollution. Various scholars, as well as students funded by the Health Effects Institute were present at the conference.

Caradee Wright gave a background talk called, ‘Different threats, same solutions’ which opened the main session. Afterwards, Caradee co-chaired a conference session on, ‘Addressing Air Pollution and Climate Change with Shared Solutions.’

Overall, Caradee was impressed by the presentations given at the conference and feels inspired to follow suit with her fellow researchers in air pollution and implement similar strategies on home soil in South Africa. Moreover, Caradee Wright plans to work closely with the Health Effects Institute, given that she is also a member of the Health Effects Institute Global Health Oversight Committee.

See the below links for more information:

• https://www.healtheffects.org/annual-conference
• https://www.healtheffects.org/about/global-health-oversight-committee

Dr Caradee Wright attended a workshop on air pollution and human health in East Africa, hosted by the Health Effects Institute, USA – from 29 March to 31 March. Stakeholders and organisations (at various levels), researching and monitoring air pollution in East Africa – particularly from Kenya and Uganda, were present at the event. Discussions around workable strategies regarding collaboration and increasing technical expertise on air pollution and health were had. Reviewing the status of current data and evidence on air quality and health risks relating to the topic alongside policies, formed the lively debates had at the workshop.  

Caradee was a member of the workshop organising committee; giving a keynote presentation, titled, Air Pollution and Human Health in Africa and a training lecture on the burden of disease studies about ambient air pollution and household air pollution in South Africa. She also chaired a group discussion on ideas for how HEI can help establish human health and air pollution research and activities in the region. Further, a funding call for research in the region will be disseminated and the SAMRC can apply.

Dr Caradee Wright and Dr Tracey Laban attended the bi-weekly meeting with Tshwane Taxi Industry (TTI) on 17 April – called Bi-weekly meeting with Tshwane Taxi Industry (TTI): Operation Inner-city Decongestion & Clean-up. The event was hosted by the Menlyn Taxi Association and the City of Tshwane, taking place at the Menlyn Taxi Association House, at Gezina. Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) was also part of the meeting with the Tshwane Taxi Industry to discuss easing traffic flow and cleaning up the inner city.

Caradee presented findings of the baseline work done for the NRF-funded Climate-proofing taxi ranks project and shared the results of the survey questionnaire given to commuters and taxi drivers in December 2022; also requesting feedback on these findings. Further, stakeholders had to advise on the proposed interventions and way forward for the project as it enters its second phase of implementation.

Given that this was a bi-weekly meeting, collaborations between the Environment and Health Research Unit (EHRU) and the Tshwane Taxi Industry (TTI) are ongoing. The EHRU is committed to implementing feedback received at the meeting, which will assist in furthering research and addressing the needs and concerns of the TTI.

Dr Tracey Laban attended a training session on domestic indoor air quality in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, on 30 March. The session was hosted by the National Department of Health (NDOH). Environmental Health Practitioners from the Nkangala District Municipality were trained regarding implementing the Indoor Air Quality Guidelines developed by the NDOH in partnership with the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries to address air pollution and poor health. Tracey gave a presentation on domestic indoor air quality studies done by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). A keen interest was noted in low-cost sensors (being used in the field by the SAMRC) and a request was made for a demonstration of the instruments’ capabilities. Discussions on the baseline assessment for the Eskom air quality offsets project ensued and SAMRC was encouraged to continue with baseline studies and health monitoring in order to provide an independent assessment. The session was also attended by Groundwork, (an NGO), who emphasized that government and industry should ensure air quality improvement interventions that work and do not place an additional financial burden on vulnerable communities.

Professor Caradee Wright and Dr Thandi Kapwata attended a research conference on climate change in Pretoria, on 9 and 10 March 2023. The event was hosted by the City of Tshwane, in partnership with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) – at the Tshwane House Council Chamber.

Professor Wright chaired the session entitled, “Sustainable consumption and production”, and Dr Kapwata presented on her topic entitled, “An analysis of past and future heatwaves based on a heat-associated mortality threshold: towards a heat health warning system.”

The conference also offered valuable opportunities for networking with stakeholders and potential collaborators within the climate change sphere.

Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni attended the SAMRC’s RCD Grant Holder’s Annual Meeting which took place on 8 and 9 March 2023 and was held at the SAMRC in Cape Town. She was awarded the SAMRC professional development programme fellowship as a postdoctoral research fellow on 1 October 2022. This was Nomfundo’s first Grant Holder’s meeting which was organized by the Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD) of the SAMRC. The meeting afforded the chance for grant holders to showcase their research. Its theme was entitled, ‘Building research leadership for societal impact.’

Presentations were given by postdoctoral fellows, early-career, and mid-career scientists from various subdisciplines in health sciences.

The meeting facilitated networking, fostered collaborations, as well as the sharing of ideas and experiences between scientists from various career levels. Nomfundo enjoyed hearing about the work of her peers and shared her perspectives, particularly from an environmental health viewpoint.

Overall, great interactions were had between grant holders, SAMRC board members and SAMRC executive committee members.

Dr Nomfundo Mahlangeni and colleagues in the SAMRC Intramural Postdoctoral Fellowships Programme at the SAMRC’s RCD Grant Holder’s Annual Meeting.

Dr Renée Street visited the University of São Paulo (Brazil) from 6-10 March 2023. She presented at a research symposium, hosted by the university, and gave a keynote lecture on heavy metal exposure in South Africa and related health risks with particular emphasis on the informal industry. A highlight of the trip was a visit to Limeira City, to understand the risks for the outsourced, home-based jewellery makers.  Issues around evidence gaps relating to exposure to toxic metals in local settings were discussed, as well as ways to prevent such exposure. The trip highlighted the importance of research innovation, as well as academic excellence through collaboration, networking and public engagement.

Dr Caradee Wright participated in an online symposium on the impact of heat stress on the health outcomes of newborn babies, titled – ‘Adapting Health Systems to Protect Children from the Impact of Climate Change: A discussion series.’ It was held on 13 February 2023 and organised by UNICEF and the Child Health Taskforce. Caradee formed part of the symposium’s third session which discussed, ‘The Impact of Heat Stress on Newborn Health Outcomes: A Focus on Congenital Heart Defects.’ She gave a presentation and afterwards was part of a panel discussion for the Q&A session. Issues affecting pregnant people, infants, and children worldwide, were pertinent to the symposium’s discussion. Therefore, it is aligned with the Healthy Environments for Healthy Children framework, which indicates the environmental and climate risks affecting children worldwide and children’s rights to a healthy environment. Caradee also engaged in discussions with Child HeartLink and UNICEF about continuing their research through international collaboration. There is also the possibility of participating in two large international studies, which will inform local research directives within the SAMRC’s Environment and Health Research Unit. For Caradee, the symposium highlighted the importance of having surgeons and physicians on a research team when working on congenital anomalies.

Caradee Wright participated in the One Health Workshop hosted by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the African Academy of Sciences in Nairobi, Kenya, from 31 January 2023 to 2 February 2023. The purpose of the workshop was to identify research objectives for One Health across multiple disciplines. Caradee gave a presentation entitled, ‘Understanding the roles of One Health, climate change and environmental health in the pandemic: lessons from COVID-19 in South Africa.’ She also chaired a group at the researcher capacity development workshop, where participants discussed the value of mentoring. This made Caradee aware of the latest pressing research questions in One Health, which could also be used to shape the One Health agenda at the SAMRC. Many potential collaborators were present at the event and plans are being made regarding future collaborations. What stood out for Caradee at the workshop was that Kenyan people are very friendly and hearing about mentoring challenges faced by researchers across Africa, made her realise that they all face similar issues. The SAMRC looks forward to conducting research in One Health.

Dr Thandi Kapwata and Dr Caradee Wright attended the Global Change Conference hosted by the University of Free State from 30 January 2023 to 2 February 2023. A keynote address was presented by Caradee and Thandi was a panellist at the Climate and Health session. This session was convened by Dr Neville Sweijd, from the Alliance for Collaboration on Climate & Earth Systems Science (ACCESS). The main aims of the 3-day side event were to facilitate a discussion among the research community on the establishment of a Research Alliance on Climate and Health and to set up a national extreme climate event working group.