Sacred water. (360G-Wellcome-103535_Z_14_Z)

'Sacred Water' explores people's relationship with water usage from ancient fountains around the Kathmandu Valley and risks of enteric disease. Through art and media we strive to build understanding between communities and medicalworkers. The project will be based on research on endemic urban typhoid transmission at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Nepal, Patan Hospital, Kathmandu. In collaboration with the Community Medical Assistants (CMAs) from OUCRU-NP, Lena and local artists from the Bikalpa Art Centre, will create a short film on usage and maintenance of the ancient fountains and develop an art workshop for local residence to express their relationship with water and water shortages. Building on the established relationship between CMAs and local patients, we plan to visit and film people in their homes and capture their activities surrounding the water spouts. With artists from the Bikalpa Art Centre, we will develop an art workshop for people to express their relationship withwater, water shortage and health concerns. By weaving together visual elements drawn from scientific research and those from people's imaginations we hope to gain some understanding of the discrepancies between science and real life practice. This in turn would provide continuing dialogue between the researchers and local people, and contribute to on-going efforts to improve sanitary conditions. The interactions and dialogues, the film and the art workshops will all contribute to build trust and understanding between the local communities,researchers and artists. This in turn will inform research agendas, future health interventions and build community empowerment.