What happens when people don't trust rainwater? How can we make them understand its benefits? We'll explain how we are going to do it.
SPOILER: With music!!
on.soundcloud.com/npCDITGRa81s...
@researchireland.ie @rcsipophealth.bsky.social @unep.org @malawi24.bsky.social @rcsi.bsky.social
We are in the final year of the #SURG-Water project, and there are still a few members of staff to introduce, so I'd better get started with the next one: Emmanuel Mathias Ngozo.
He's the man who never loses his smile — a great superpower to have these days!
@researchireland.ie @rcsi.bsky.social
It's exciting to see the construction of the calabash tanks at the Chimaliro Health Centre in Malawi. They will soon hold thousands of litres of water for use in the facility's maternal ward
We keep #localising our water system and make it more sustainable 💪🏾🔥
@researchireland.ie @rcsi.bsky.social
We're back with #MeetTheTeam, and today it's the turn of our hygiene expert, Shadrick Masulani.
He's good with research and numbers and a great asset to the team. And on top of all of this, he is also very photogenic! 😎
@researchireland.ie @rcsiglobalsurgery.bsky.social @jointsdgfund.bsky.social
As part of ongoing efforts to improve our SODIS water system, we have installed reusable water filters at both Thekerani and Chimvu. Now, neither algae nor sediment can pass through the filter. What's more, they are locally available!
#localising
@researchireland.ie @rcsiglobalsurgery.bsky.social
Last week, our colleague Prof. Christabel Kambala presented and represented the project at the IWA in front of the international community. She took to Bangkok the topic of solar disinfection of harvested rainwater to improve access to safe water in rural health centres! 🥳👏👏
@researchireland.ie
Today, the team visited the Kanyezi Health Centre in Dedza to check the area where the new water system with a 100% Malawian-made calabash tank will be installed #localising
@researchireland.ie @rcsipophealth.bsky.social @rcsiglobalsurgery.bsky.social @jointsdgfund.bsky.social
Learn more about our project!
@researchireland.ie @rcsipophealth.bsky.social @rcsiglobalsurgery.bsky.social @unep.org
Check this video to know more about our project!!
We are preparing for the construction of the first reactor to be built in #Malawi. The Irish team will travel to the health centre where the reactor will be installed. This is a significant step forward in #localising our SODIS system.
@researchireland.ie @rcsiglobalsurgery.bsky.social
In case you missed it, @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social talked about our project at @siliconrepublic.bsky.social
You can read the piece here:
www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/r...
@researchireland.ie @rcsipophealth.bsky.social @rcsiglobalsurgery.bsky.social
Our colleague Emmanuel Ngozo presented our national telephone survey on water needs in healthcare facilities at the 1st National Public Health Research Dissemination Conference in #Malawi. Findings reveal a lack of water in delivery rooms in some primary healthcare facilities.
@researchireland.ie
With Halloween just around the corner, do you know what a #calabash is? And, are you aware that it is the name given to a low-cost, locally constructed rainwater harvesting tank used for storing water in places such as Malawi?
More details to follow soon!
@researchireland.ie @rcsi.bsky.social
We're back with new episodes of #BeWater!
Our second season begins with the #SustainablePlan and how to achieve it.
Listen and let us know what you think!
shorturl.at/BUQ1J
@researchireland.ie @rcsipophealth.bsky.social
@sdgactioncampaign.org
A sustainable solution continues to work long after the initial project has been completed. It's something that local communities can maintain using their own resources without harming the environment or requiring constant external help.
We're committed to finding that solution.
@researchireland.ie
Our solar-disinfected rainwater system provides maternity wards in rural health facilities with safe water where there was none before.
We're achieving this while developing local manufacturing skills, which will have a lasting impact that goes beyond providing access to water.
@researchireland.ie
In Malawi, some health centres don’t harvest rain despite the abundance in some parts of the year —storage tanks are lacking and rainwater is seen as unsuitable for cleaning.
Raising awareness of the importance of rainwater harvesting is therefore a key part of our mission.
@researchireland.ie
We are pleased to introduce another colleague through the #MeetTheTeam series. Today, we welcome Desire Mussa.
He's probably still celebrating the completion of his Master's degree at MUBAS (Malawi), so I'm not sure if he'll read this post 👏🏾🥳
Congratulations, Desire!
@researchireland.ie
We want to share the happiness of our colleague @D_C_Mussawho, who has recently obtained his MSc in Sustainable Energy.
Based on his work in #SURG_Water he assessed the effectiveness of #SODIS systems in #Malawi under the lowest solar UV intensity.
Congratulations, Desire! 👏🎉💃
@researchireland.ie
"According to @WHO, only 24% [of health centres in Malawi] have running water, which poses a lethal danger to pregnant women."
Read this by @masauli.bsky.social in @elpais.com, about this issue and how our work helps:
shorturl.at/Dd8BJ
@researchireland.ie
#WorldWaterWeek2025 is under the theme "Water for Climate Action"
Our project helps health facilities in Malawi adapt to droughts and unreliable rainfall by harvesting rainwater and utilising solar energy to transform these natural resources into a clean, accessible water supply
@researchireland.ie
Millions of women give birth in clinics without access to clean water, which can lead to deadly infections. #SURG_Water focuses on maternal wards because life begins there, and what better way to start life than to be washed with clean water after entering this world?
@researchireland.ie
We're #localising, which means we're aiming to develop our water system right here in Malawi, using local skills and materials. We are looking at ways to adapt the technology so that it can be manufactured and repaired in Malawi or neighbouring African countries as required.
@researchireland.ie
Thanks to the money donated by the family and friends of Dr Dirk Grabosch (Castro-Rauxel, 🇩🇪) on his birthday, 2 new tanks have been installed at the health centres in Thekerani and Chimaliro.
A generous gesture that will boost these communities' water storage capacity.
@researchireland.ie
Design thinking is a creative, practical way to solve problems by focusing on what real people need.
At #SURG_Water, we apply #designthinking to deeply engage with communities, listening to their needs, testing ideas collaboratively and refining solutions together.
@researchireland.ie
We are #localising our technology so that it can be produced and operated locally.
Why is this important?
This will reduce construction and maintenance costs, increase the potential for wider use in #Malawi and ensure the #sustainability of the technology beyond the project.
@researchireland.ie
At SURG-Water, we’ve redesigned our reactor to be simpler, easier to clean, and more cost-effective — and it’s performing impressively in tests. Innovation driving sustainability.
@researchireland.ie @rcsiglobalsurgery.bsky.social @rcsipophealth.bsky.social
We're working on a new design for our reactor!
And we've travelled all the way to the Solar Platform in Almeria, Spain, to take a look.
A full video will follow soon, but in the meantime, take a look at the team here.
Exciting things to come!
@researchireland.ie @rcsiglobalsurgery.bsky.social
We're continuing the important task of introducing our colleagues through the #MeetTheTeam series. Today, it is Zsofia Torok's turn. Zsofia is the latest addition to the RCSI team and is already proving to be a valuable asset, helping to take our research to a new level.
@researchireland.ie
Our colleague Desire C. Mussa has recently talked at #TEDxBwaila, “addressing societal issues through sustainable energy.”
Desire used his personal story to show how some of the challenges faced in #Malawi might be solved using sustainable energy 💙🧡
#TEDxtalks #TingatheWecan
@researchireland.ie
