WWW 2021 | Empowering local communities to tackle NTDs, WASH and climate change
The effects of climate change are leading to a changing geographical distribution of neglected tropical diseases, with dramatic consequences. Three practical examples will be used to fuel a multidisciplinary discussion on how combined veterinary, health and WASH interventions and innovative community engagement approaches can effectively address these challenges.
You will be provided with three examples:
1. Pakistan where the NTD Leishmaniosis spreads in formerly non-endemic areas due to altered temperatures and rainfalls.
2. Kenya where the One-health approach – improved WASH interventions and waste management, hygiene measures and veterinary health services like vaccinating dogs and livestock to benefit human beings.
3. Ghana to show how WaterAid’s novel hygiene campaign based on the hygiene behavior centred (HBC) is innovatively changing behaviors of people in healthcare facilities, schools, communities and public places. The approach is focused on knowledge, practice and infrastructure/products; integrating as well WASH/health interventions to empower citizens in hygiene campaigns, building an enabling environment for infrastructure for behavior change. They are using the evidence together with research findings to influence the Government of Ghana to prioritize WASH in Climate Change Adaptation Plans for sustainable WASH services and Infrastructure.