Graced by Her Excellency Madame Professor Gertrude Mutharika, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, and the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, the 2026 Malawi Environmental Health Association (MEHA) Conference and annual general meeting (AGM) brought environmental health professionals together from 27–28 August at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach in Salima.
Six MUBAS-WASHTED members presented research addressing environmental health and WASH challenges across communities, schools, and healthcare facilities. The presentations covered single-use plastic consumption across different income groups, the effects of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) on sanitation-related quality of life, adolescent participation in co-designing hand hygiene interventions, improving school sanitation through Trials of Improved Practices, the mental health effects of inadequate WASH conditions on adolescents, and conditions in Guardian Waiting Shelters.
Sharing research findings locally helps bridge the gap between evidence and action by ensuring that the findings reach environmental health professionals, policymakers, and programme implementers who understand the local context and can use them to strengthen policies, improve programmes and inform everyday practice.
Held under the theme, “Environmental Health: Key to Attainment of Climate Change Resilience,” the conference was particularly timely for Malawi. Climate change is increasing pressure on water supplies, sanitation systems, and public health. Building climate resilience must therefore include WASH systems that are safe, inclusive, sustainable and capable of
protecting communities and institutions during climate-related shocks.
For MUBAS-WASHTED, the conference provided an important platform to share evidence, learn from practitioners, and contribute to discussions on strengthening environmental health and advancing Malawi’s progress towards SDGs 3, 4, 6, 11, and 12.
Research shared. Evidence discussed. Action inspired.
