The research landscape of household air pollution, clean energy access, and health in Rwanda

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The research landscape of household air pollution, clean energy access, and health in Rwanda

Join the WHO webinar “The research landscape of household air pollution, clean energy access, and health in Rwanda” to be held on 29 August 2024 at 16:00-17:30 (CEST).

2.1 billion people worldwide still cook meals over open fires and/or on simple stoves fueled by firewood, agricultural waste, dried dung, charcoal, and coal. This inefficient practice results in the emissions of harmful and dangerously high levels of household air pollution. Exposure to this household air pollution causes 3.2 million deaths yearly.

Research on household air pollution (HAP) and associated health impacts has advanced significantly. However, crucial gaps remain in HAP exposure measurement, health impact assessment (both short-term and long-term and in vulnerable populations), and the efficacy and effectiveness of clean household energy interventions.

In June 2024, WHO in collaboration with the Rwanda Ministry of Health organized the “Air pollution and clean energy access for health in Africa: capacity building workshops in Rwanda”, which consisted of two capacity-building workshops targeting a multi-sectoral audience at the national level:

1) workshop on the use of the WHO Benefits of Action to Reduce Household Air Pollution (BAR-HAP) tool;
2) Train-the-Trainer pilot workshop using the WHO Air Pollution and Health Training Toolkit targeting health workers (APHT).

As part of the follow up activities and in response to the manifested interest of participants and stakeholders, a webinar session to present the research landscape of household air pollution, clean energy access, and health in Rwanda is organized with the aim of:

  • Taking stock of household air pollution and clean energy intervention studies in Rwanda
  • Facilitating exchange and networking between key stakeholders in the health and other sectors
  • Serving as country case study and scientific evidence dissemination webinar for other countries or regions to focus research on household air pollution and clean energy access
  • Stressing the importance of country-specific research to support the development of a national roadmap for a just and clean household energy transition
  • Learning how scientific evidence can serve for community engagement and advocacy

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Agenda

Chair and moderator
Dr Jeremiah Mushosho, Team Lead – Climate Change, Health & Environment, WHO AFRO

Opening remarks/keynote
Dr Brian Chirombo, WHO Representative Rwanda

Updates
Health system engagement in Rwanda on air pollution and clean energy access
Ms Alphonsine Mukamunana, Environmental Health Specialist, Ministry of Health, Rwanda

Air pollution and clean energy access for health in Africa: highlights from the WHO capacity building workshops in Rwanda
Dr Theopista John Kabuteni, WHO Country Office Rwanda

Presentation

Part 1

Introduction to household energy intervention study design
Dr Tom Clasen, Rose Salamone Gangarosa Chair, Professor of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
 

Assessing household air pollution exposure
Dr Ajay ​Pillarisetti, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley

Part 2

Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) study: key results in Rwanda
Dr Tom Clasen, Rose Salamone Gangarosa Chair, Professor of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

Sustainable Household Energy Adoption in Rwanda (SHEAR): Promoting Rural Health with Solar and Natural Gas
Dr John Volckens, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Health, Colorado State University

Presentation – Title (tbc)
Prof Daniel Pope, University of Liverpool

Presentation – Title (tbc)
Mr Reverien Rutayisire, Rwanda Biomedical Centre & CLEAN-Air (Africa) Global Research Network

Presentation – Title (tbc)
Dr Emery Hezagira, Rwanda Biomedical Centre & CLEAN-Air (Africa) Global Research Network

Panel discussion/Q&A session

Closing remarks

Ms Heather Adair-Rohani, Unit Head, Air Quality, Energy and Health, WHO 

Confirmed Speakers

Jeremiah Mushosho
Dr. Jeremiah Mushosho is a Climate Change, Environment, Renewable Energy, and Health Specialist with over 15 years of experience. He currently leads the Climate Change, Health, and Environment team at the WHO AFRO Regional Office spearheading initiatives that intersect climate change, health, and environmental issues across Africa.Dr. Mushosho is a Certified Expert in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany. He holds a specialized MBA in Energy and Sustainability from the University of Cumbria in the United Kingdom, a Master of Science in Development Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies in Zimbabwe. Additionally, he earned a Ph.D. in Business and Management, focusing on Climate and Renewable Energy Financing from the University of Zambia.

Brian Chirombo
Dr. Brian Chirombo is the Head of Mission and Country Representative for Rwanda since October 2021. As representative of both the Global WHO Director General and the Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), he provides WHO strategic leadership in Rwanda in the policy, technical, political, diplomatic, advocacy and management areas. Dr Chirombo has more 30 years Public Health experience leading, managing and implementing development and cooperation programs at national, regional and international levels. He has extensive experience working with Governments, Academia, International NGOs and the UN in many countries.

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Alphonsine Mukamunana

Theopista John Kabuteni

Thomas Clasen
Thomas Clasen, an environmental epidemiologist, is the Rose Salamone Gangarosa Professor of Environmental Health at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. His research includes randomized controlled field trials to assess the health impact of water, and sanitation interventions, systematic reviews of water quality and sanitation interventions to prevent diarrhoeal disease and enteric infection, cost effectiveness analyses and project evaluations.  Prof. Clasen holds an MSc (Control of Infectious Diseases) and PhD from the University of London; he also holds a JD (Law) from Georgetown University. 

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Ajay ​Pillarisetti
Ajay Pillarisetti is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Health in the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley. He received a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from Berkeley and an MPH in Global Environmental Health and BS in Biology from Emory University. Dr. Pillarisetti’s research focuses on measuring and modeling the health, climate, and economic impacts of air pollution, with a focus on household energy use and related behaviors in low- and middle-income countries. He has over fifteen years of experience working on global environmental health research, practice, and capacity building in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with a recent focus on making science-backed, policy-relevant recommendations on the benefits of clean energy transitions at scale. His work has been funded by the US National Institutes of Health, World Health Organization, US EPA, the Clean Cooking Alliance, and a Fulbright student research grant, among others.

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Daniel Pope
Daniel Pope is a Professor of Global Public Health and Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health, University of Liverpool. He has more than 20 years’ experience researching the health, gender, environment and climate impacts from reliance on polluting household energy in Africa, Latin America and Asia. He was helped steer WHO air quality guidelines for household fuel combustion and his current research focusses on prevention strategies through clean cooking technologies and fuels. He currently directs the NIHR CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit. 

Daniel Pope_UOL

John Volckens
Dr. John Volckens is a professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Director of the Center for Energy Development and Health at Colorado State University (CSU). He holds affiliate appointments in Environmental Health, Biomedical Engineering, the Colorado School of Public Health, and the CSU Energy Institute. His research interests involve air quality, low-cost sensors, exposure science, and air pollution-related disease. He is a founding member of the CSU Partnership for Air Quality, Climate, and Health – an organization that seeks to develop practical, science-vetted solutions to intertwined problems of air quality, climate, and health that we face as a society.

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Reverien Rutayisire

Emery Hezagira
He holds a Master’s degree in Public Health (Global Health). He is a Public Health professional with more than 14 years of experience in implementing and supporting community health programs in Rwanda. He is currently Director of Community Health Program at Rwanda Biomedical Center. He benefitted from different national and international courses in Community Health. He supported the Community Health program through various national and international workshops. He participated in several National Policy Dialogues organized by the Ministry of Health and partners. My interest areas remain in Community health interventions.

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Heather Rohani-Adair
Heather Adair-Rohani currently leads the work on air quality, energy and health at the World Health Organization Headquarters. She has led the establishment of the Health and Energy Platform of Action, and the High-level Coalition on Health and Energy. She co-led the coordination and development of the WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion and is currently overseeing the work to support countries in the implementation of these Guidelines through the Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit.  She also actively participates and represents WHO at various global initiatives focused on health, air pollution and energy like UN Energy, Sustainable Energy for All, Inter-Agency Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators, and the Global Strategy for Women, Children and Adolescent Health.

Portrait_Heather Adair-Rohani

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

About the webinar series

This event is part of the WHO Webinar Series – Clean air and energy for health: from evidence to solutions

The series gives a 360° view on current state of science, tools, interventions and the implementation of policies and programmes for clean air and better health. This series will also showcase solutions that can help prevent or mitigate air pollution health, economic and environmental costs. Bringing together experts, leaders, policymakers, civil society champions, innovators from a multi-sectorial perspective, it will also serve as a platform for fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge, and ultimately shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

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