Integration of water, sanitation, and hygiene for the prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases: a rationale for inter-sectoral collaboration

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013 Sep 26;7(9):e2439. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002439. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Improvements of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and appropriate health-seeking behavior are necessary for achieving sustained control, elimination, or eradication of many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Indeed, the global strategies to fight NTDs include provision of WASH, but few programs have specific WASH targets and approaches. Collaboration between disease control programs and stakeholders in WASH is a critical next step. A group of stakeholders from the NTD control, child health, and WASH sectors convened in late 2012 to discuss opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration. The group agreed on a common vision, namely "Disease-free communities that have adequate and equitable access to water and sanitation, and that practice good hygiene." Four key areas of collaboration were identified, including (i) advocacy, policy, and communication; (ii) capacity building and training; (iii) mapping, data collection, and monitoring; and (iv) research. We discuss strategic opportunities and ways forward for enhanced collaboration between the WASH and the NTD sectors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Communicable Disease Control / methods
  • Communicable Disease Control / organization & administration*
  • Communicable Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Health Policy
  • Humans
  • Hygiene*
  • Neglected Diseases / epidemiology
  • Neglected Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Sanitation / methods*
  • Tropical Climate
  • Water Purification / methods*

Grants and funding

The meeting that led to the current policy platform was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.