Gates Foundation: Wastewater monitoring should become public health priority

Wastewater monitoring should be made a priority within national health systems, James Carty, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East at the Gates Foundation, said during panel discussions at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group's 51st Annual Meetings in Baku, Report informs.

Carty emphasized that governments should first adopt wastewater monitoring and commit to it: "This ensures the process is included in national budgets and allows countries to formally request financial support. Monitoring systems can be tailored to each country's needs, especially by focusing on priority pathogens. This approach makes systems more targeted and effective. At the same time, we are working closely with the World Health Organization to develop regulatory frameworks and standards. The goal is to integrate these systems into both domestic and international monitoring and response mechanisms. But for all these efforts to succeed, countries must treat this process as a priority and take ownership of it."