Impacts of the Poor Application and Implementation of WASH Standards on Maternal and Newborn Morality Rates in Rural Africa
Julia H. Dennis – Undergraduate - UNR

WASH is an acronym for water, sanitation, and hygiene, a combination of services and practices essential for public health, disease prevention, and human dignity. Maternal and infant mortality rates have increased due to the significant gaps in the implementation and access to WASH services and resources in western, eastern and Southern Africa. Newborn mortality rates serve as a crucial indicator of a region’s overall health, reflecting the quality of prenatal and postnatal care, maternal health, economic conditions, and social wellbeing. Cases of poor maternal and newborn health (MNH) standards in Nigeria and Eritrea, show significant gaps in many birthing facilities and home birth environments, forcing women in these rural parts to give birth in health care facilities with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) jointly published the Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT), as a guide for improving quality care through WASH in Health Care Facilities (WinHCF). Establishing the minimum health standard requirements for healthcare in medium and low resource countries, however WASH implementation is often hindered by poor infrastructure and lack of planning and funding. Within Nigeria and Eritrea, WASH standards for birthing facilities and birthing homes are not meeting the minimum guidelines for WinHCF put in place by WHO/UNICEF. In this paper, I explore the current WASH standards in birthing facilities and homes in rural communities in Africa, as well as explore the challenges of why the implementation of these standards is so difficult under current circumstances.

[Title] 
Angela Javier - Undergraduate - NSU

[Abstract] 

Cleanliness and Drinkability of Groundwater in the Gaza Strip
Zara Mclaughlin Martinez – Undergraduate - NSU

The Gaza Strip continues to be in a constant state of desolation due to the ongoing war with Israel. Gazans are stuck in the Gaza Strip with nowhere to go, and are not receiving necessary resources such as food, medical supplies, and water. Before the war, the Gaza Strip was one of the most densely populated places in the world, and although many have been martyred over the last few years, the density continues to get worse as Palestinians are often forced to evacuate from place to place. As a result of the lack of aid and the increased population density, resources have become scarce as their demand grows. While support is being restricted, Gazans may be turning to groundwater as a potential source of water, which may result in future health deterioration due to the intrusion of salt from the bordering ocean. As the environment continues to deteriorate due to the consistent bombings, it is crucial to consider how the health of the residents is being affected and where they are getting sustainable resources, if any. Focusing on groundwater, we will examine the repercussions the war has had on the quality of the water, such as the effect it has had on agriculture and drinkability, and establish potential solutions. Verifying the current living conditions of the locals will help us gain a better understanding and incentivize us to empathize with their plights.

Drinking Water Quality in Rural Guatemala: Challenges and Solutions
Jasmin L Robles – Undergraduate - UNR

Having clean drinking water is a basic human right, but this is not the case in rural Guatemala. While there are many solutions possible and available, not everything is consistent or culturally appropriate. From mining operations to volcanic activity, there are many reasons why Guatemalan rural communities struggle to get clean drinking water. Not having access to clean drinking water is causing many people to get preventable, treatable diseases, with many of these diseases leading to irreparable bodily damage and in the worst cases, death. This paper looks at the quality of drinking water and challenges associated with getting access to high quality drinking water, along with the dangers of not having access to it. I will also analyze what solutions have been offered and how these solutions may not always be practical for many regions. The data gathered will come from several peer-reviewed sources, in which studies of these rural regions involved interviews with residents. The paper demonstrates the desperate state these people live in and the solutions that are not always as good as they seem.