Get Involved

About the event

  • Location: Online
  • Date: Tuesday 21 March 2023
  • Time: 15:00 – 16:00 GMT  / 11:00 – 12:00 EDT / 16:00 – 17:00 CET

Register

As part of the UN 2023 Water Conference, Uniting to Combat NTDs is collaborating with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to host a side event exploring the links, synergies, and opportunities between WASH and NTDs to accelerate progress and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6 – ‘Good Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’. 

In this panel discussion, hear from distinguished speakers as they examine the links and connections between WASH and NTDs, and the potential of cross-sectoral partnerships including case studies and examples of best practice. 

This event will be in English and French with live interpretation.

Speakers  

  • Dr Michael Grewe, Deputy Head of Division 101 Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness, One Health, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
  • Dr Ndéye M’backé Kane, National NTD Programme Coordinator, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Senegal
  • Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director, Global Programme for Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization  
  • Abdoul Aziz Faye, President, POSCEAS/CONGAD Network, Senegal (Platform of Civil Society Organizations for Water and Sanitation in Senegal)  
  • Shomy Hasan Chowdhury, Youth Advisory Board Member, Youth Combatting NTDs and Co-Founder, Awareness 360

Moderated by Alisha Ault, Policy Analyst, Uniting to Combat NTDs

Why is this important? 

Water, sanitation, and hygiene are pillars of global public health. Well-implemented interventions that result in improved access to WASH for individuals and communities are necessary for the control, elimination, and eradication of certain NTDs, a diverse group of 20 conditions that are widespread in vulnerable populations of the world’s poorest regions. 

Despite this, not enough attention has been given to the links between WASH and NTDs. NTDs prevail among the world’s poorest 40%, the same populations with the least access to sustainable, safe, and affordable WASH services. Both contribute to cycles of poverty and disease. Progress against certain NTDs can serve as a proxy for equity and effective targeting of WASH programmes.

It is particularly important to highlight the synergies that arise from the cross sectoral work at the UN 2023 Water Conference, and the need for funding structures and policy to support this work. 

Further reading on WASH and NTDs