The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a global plan to eliminate and eradicate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) using Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) by the year 2020.

Over 1 billion people are affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). These diseases cause chronic disability and death among the poorest of the poor- the same people who lack access to basic water and sanitation.

WASH is a critical element in the prevention and care of 16 out of the 17 NTDs. Poor WASH conditions and NTDs contribute to a vicious cycle of disease and poverty.

The new strategy has the following elements:

1. Improve awareness of the co-benefits of the joint WASH and NTDs action by sharing experience and evidence.
2. Use WASH and NTDs monitoring to highlight inequalities, target investment, and track progress.
3. Strengthen evidence on how to deliver effective WASH interventions for NTD control and elimination.
4.  Plan, deliver and evaluate WASH and NTD programmes

Useful Links:

Link to the web release:

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/events/wash-and-ntd-strategy/en/

Link to the Strategy document:

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/182735/1/WHO_FWC_WSH_15.12_eng.pdf?ua=1

Link to the Third WHO report on neglected tropical diseases:

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/152781/1/9789241564861_eng.pdf?ua=1

Link to the infographic on WASH and NTDs (PDF):

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/events/wash-ntd-infographic.pdf?ua=1

Link to facts on tackling NTDs using WASH:

http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/wash-ntds/en/