I traveled to Senegal on business in late March. While I was there, I extended my stay by a few days to meet with colleagues supporting the work of Saori Fukui, a graduate student in the International Health Program at Nagasaki University’s School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH), and to visit her research site.
During my visit, I met with Prof. Issakha Diallo of Université Amadou Hampaté Bâ de Dakar (UAHB) and Mr. Mamadou Ndiaye of the local NGO Intermondes, both of whom have been closely involved in facilitating Saori’s field activities.
Saori’s research explores children’s handwashing practices within the broader context of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). This trip was primarily an opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the community members who have warmly welcomed and supported Saori, and to observe the local water environment that shapes everyday hygiene practices. Notably, this village was also included as a site for a preliminary survey in my own ageing research project. The visit provided valuable context for understanding the field setting behind Saori’s ongoing research.
