Over the past decade, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) have been recognized as fundamental components of global public health, crucial for controlling, eliminating, and eradicating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Effective WASH interventions at both individual and community levels have demonstrated significant impacts in reducing NTD transmission and supporting broader health outcomes.
Since 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) has actively promoted collaboration between WASH and NTD stakeholders through the Global Strategy on WASH and NTDs, updated in 2021 to align with the NTD road map and the Sustainable Development Goals timeline of 2030. This strategy has guided both global and country-level efforts, fostering partnerships, policy integration, and data-driven decision-making across multiple sectors.
Countries have made notable progress in coordinating WASH and NTD activities. High-level political engagement, participation in international events like World Water Day and Global Handwashing Day, and the inclusion of WASH stakeholders in national NTD taskforces have strengthened cross-sector collaboration. Technical working groups and multi-country NTD programs, including Ascend, Act to End NTDs, and Accelerate, have further supported coordination and funding for WASH-NTD initiatives.
Data integration has been a key achievement of these efforts. Several countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria, have developed data merge platforms and district-level dashboards overlaying WASH access with disease distribution. WASH indicators have been incorporated into NTD surveys, and modeled data has been made accessible through platforms such as the ESPEN portal, enabling better joint planning and resource allocation. These approaches have allowed countries to prioritize investments for trachoma, soil-transmitted helminths, and schistosomiasis, and to apply joint data for humanitarian programming in countries like Sudan and Yemen.
Strategic frameworks and national guidelines have institutionalized WASH-NTD collaboration. Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria have developed formal frameworks and training toolkits, while joint strategies for social and behavior change have been implemented in countries such as Laos and Cambodia. WASH integration has also been embedded in national NTD master plans and sustainability strategies, ensuring alignment of interventions across health, education, and community development sectors.
Research and knowledge generation have advanced understanding of WASH-NTD linkages. Since 2015, 130 peer-reviewed articles have been published, with Ethiopia producing the highest number of publications, followed by Kenya and Timor Leste. These studies provide evidence for the effectiveness of integrated approaches and help guide program planning and policy development.
National coordination platforms have been established in many countries, featuring technical working groups, joint task forces, and sub-national forums. Some countries, like Gambia and Namibia, have integrated these platforms into broader One Health frameworks to facilitate cross-sector coordination. In addition, existing WASH NGO networks have been increasingly included in national coordination mechanisms, promoting integrated activities such as social and behavior change initiatives. These efforts have resulted in joint annual planning processes, exemplified by Kenya, where NTDs are now fully incorporated into the national WASH investment plan.
Overall, a decade of collaboration between WASH and NTD stakeholders has strengthened cross-sector coordination, improved data integration, and supported the development of national frameworks and strategies. These achievements have laid a foundation for more targeted, sustainable interventions that advance the elimination of NTDs and improve public health outcomes across endemic regions.
