The NIHR Global Health Research Group on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, in collaboration with partners from MUBAS (through WASHTED), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), and the University of Strathclyde, conducted a stakeholder validation meeting on 4 February 2026 at Chimwankhunda Primary School to gather feedback on the Trial of Improved Practices (TIPs) School Sanitation intervention currently being implemented at the school. The meeting aimed to validate the findings and insights from the TIPs before they are incorporated into the upcoming feasibility study.
The meeting brought together a diverse group of key stakeholders, including representatives from the District Health Office, Blantyre City Council, the Blantyre Urban Education Office, the local village headman, school management, cleaners, and learner representatives. This broad participation created a valuable platform for inclusive dialogue and reflection on the implementation of the sanitation intervention.
The session opened with an overview of the NIHR project, with a specific focus on Work Strand 4, which examines the role of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in improving adolescent health and well-being. Learners and teachers then presented a summary of the TIPs activities that have been done at the school, sharing their experiences and perspectives from the school level.
The research team later presented key TIPs findings, highlighting comparisons between baseline and endline data on sanitation practices and the condition of school toilets. These results helped stakeholders better understand the impact of the interventions on school sanitation. The meeting also included a guided visit to the school toilets, after which stakeholders provided direct feedback on the activities and their implementation.
Overall, the meeting reinforced the importance of stakeholder engagement in shaping effective, context-appropriate interventions and ensuring that evidence generated through TIPs meaningfully informs future research and practice.
