As described in today’s New York Times Global Update: Rwanda: Hospital’s Design Keeps Fresh Air in Mind, the design for the new Burera district hospital relies in part on outdoor walkways and waiting rooms, and large windows on opposing walls to keep air circulating and reduce the spread of airborne disease. The article also cites the 2007 publication of Rod Escombe’s measurements of natural ventilation rates in hospitals in Lima, Peru, in PLoS.

Peter Drobac, MD, GHD Adviser and Clinical Adviser to Partners In Health and the Rwandan government, says “[…] your average hospital in rural Africa would have long, dark hallways and the windows shut.” The hospital’s design was done by graduate students at Harvard’s design school, a group who also created the nonprofit Model of Architecture Serving Society.

Edward Nardell, MD, Moderator of the GHDonline TB Infection Control community, shared his opinion on the importance of natural ventilation to the spread of tuberculosis, and insights on Escombe’s study and following commentaries. Read it and share your experience and questions, here.