Accra: Scientists and public health experts from 31 countries have called for increased investment in wastewater and environmental surveillance to strengthen disease detection and response systems. The call was made at the Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance (WES) Conference 2026 held in Accra under the theme 'Harnessing Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance - A One Health and Disease Control Tool.'
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Kate Medlicott, World Health Organisation Technical Lead on Sanitation and Wastewater, emphasized at the conference that wastewater surveillance could provide critical trend data even in areas where clinical reporting was limited. She advocated for stronger multi-sector collaboration and the adaptation of surveillance systems to fit local contexts.
The conference attracted 178 in-person participants and over 400 virtual participants daily from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Participants highlighted that wastewater and environmental surveillance offer a cost-effective, non-invasive early-warning system for detecting infectious diseases, including emerging pathogens. They noted that this system could complement clinical surveillance, enhance outbreak preparedness, and support timely public health responses.
Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, stated that Ghana is committed to integrating wastewater surveillance into national disease control systems. He mentioned that this approach has supported polio eradication efforts and could be expanded to address other public health threats.
Participants raised concerns about the heavy reliance on donor funding for such surveillance systems in many low- and middle-income countries. They called for increased domestic financing, capacity building, and stronger policy integration. The conference recommended adopting wastewater and environmental surveillance as part of the One Health approach, integrating it into national surveillance systems, and investing in research to guide policy decisions.
It also called for sustainable financing mechanisms and strengthened laboratory and technical capacity. Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, a public health expert and Chair of the conference, urged the development of scalable and sustainable systems to bolster global health security. Organisers expressed appreciation to partner institutions, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana Health Service, World Health Organisation, University of Ghana, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Environmental Protection Authority, Scripps Research, the Ministry of Health, and the Gates Foundation.