17th Asian Conference on Diarrhoeal Disease and Nutrition (ASCODD) 2024, Kathmandu (Presentation)
In December 2024, GlohMed investigators participated in the 17th ASCODD Conference, organized in Kathmandu, Nepal, by Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Nepal (OUCRU). GlohMed investigator Dr. Suraj Bhattarai delivered a “Lightening talk”, whereas Dr. Rabin Thami (Research fellow) presented a poster on the impact of climate change on diarrhoeal diseases and nutrition in Nepal. The focus of the presentation was the influence of climate variability on water- and food-borne diseases, such as acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and cholera, as well as on under-nutrition trends in Nepal over a 15-year period (2005–2020). The data (and its visualization) presented in the conference was extracted from a national level assessment titled “Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment of Climate Sensitive Diseases and Health Risks in Nepal”, which was carried out and published by the Ministry of Health and Population with support from the WHO Nepal. Dr. Bhattarai directly contributed to the (epidemiological) analysis of health data in this assessment, as a co-investigator.
The 17th ASCODD Conference centered on the theme “Emerging Enteric Infections and the Impact of Climate Change,” bringing together participants from esteemed institutions across Asia, Europe, and the USA. GlohMed investigators actively engaged in discussions, gaining valuable insights into how changing climate patterns affect vector habitats, disease seasonality, and the ongoing development of novel vaccines. GlohMed strongly supports participation in such conferences to foster collaboration and facilitate knowledge exchange among researchers, clinicians, and global health experts.
