Tanzania Water, Health & Environment Symposium
February 27, 2008

Achieving sustanable access to clean water in Tanzania:
Impact on human health

Africa1.2 billion people lack access to clean water

“Nearly 2 million children die each year for want of a glass of water and adequate sanitation” (Human Development Report 2006).

Water borne infections diseases snuff out economic growth and hamper poverty reduction in some of the most impoverished parts of the world.

Rainy seasons will be disrupted with changing climate.

Extreme weather patterns may create severe water shortages areas with chronic water stress.

What can we do about this ?

Stony Brook University through the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences, School of Medicine, and International Academic Programs, recognizes the need to seek solution for these problems.  We cannot wait but need to start now.   On February 27, 2008  a symposium on “Achieving sustainable access to clean water in Tanzania: Impact on human health” will be held at Stony Brook University.  Some of the world’s leading experts will come together to talk about water.  Experts from Tanzania will address water issues specific to their country.

waterboy Mutale River

Symposium Highlights

Challenges

  • Water-borne diseases
  • Water pollution
  • Water supply
  • Water policy
  • Environmental change

Solutions

  • Solar Disinfection (SODIS)
  • Expanding water conservation and supply
  • Water filtration
  • Water sanitation
  • Public Health Education
  • Health surveillance and monitoring
  • Building monitoring and forecasting capacity
boy drinking
boys drinking

Schedule

Date and Time: February 27, 2008; 9:15 AM to 6:00PM

Location: Conference Center (Room 120), Endeavour Hall, School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, South Campus, Stony Brook University.

Organizing Committee: Kamazima Lwiza, Caroline Stamato, Thomas O’Riordan

Registration is free of charge. RSVP to cstamato@ic.sunysb.edu

Morning Session

Chairs: Ambassador Ombeni Sefue and Prof. Pierce Gardner, MD (Dean of International Studies, SoM).

9:15 Welcome and Introduction, Prof. Larry Swanson, PhD (Associate Dean SoMAS), Prof. Richard Fine, (Dean, School of Medicine), Prof. William Arens, (Dean of International Programs, Stony Brook University).
9:30 Environment, Water and Human health in Tanzania, Prof. R.S. Mukandala, Vice  Chancellor, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania [link]
10:00
 Diarrheal illness and childhood mortality.  Dr. E. Mintz, Chief of Section of Diarrheal Disease, Center of Disease Control [link]
10:30 Coffee break
10:45 Neglected tropical, water-borne water-borne diseases. Prof. P. Hotez, Chair of Microbiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC. [link]
11:15 Water born disease in Tanzania, Dr. J. N. Ijumba, Senior Lecturer, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania [link]
11:45 Lunch break

Afternoon Session

Chairs: Ambassador Dr. A. Mahiga, and Prof. M. Schoonen

1:15 Effects of climate change on water availability. Prof. M. Zhang, SBU [link]
1:45 Chemical contamination of surface and groundwater. Prof. J. Meliker, SBU [link]
2:15 Solar disinfection (SODIS) community health perspective. Dr. M. Meegan, EU SODISWATER, Nairobi, Kenya.
2:45 Optimizing SODIS: microbiology and future research. Prof. K. McGuigan, RCSI, Dublin, Ireland. [link]
3:15 New concepts in water filtration. Prof. Benjamin Chu, SBU [link]
3:45 Coffee break
4:00 Water harvesting and conservation. Prof. H. Bokuniewicz, SBU [link]
4:30 Tanzanian water development policy. Prof. F. Mtalo, Dean of Civil Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
5:00-6:00 Future directions / panel discussion Prof. Kamazima Lwiza, and Prof. Thomas O’Riordan   - SBU [link]

 

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Page last modified on March 3, 2008 by George E. Carroll