Blog | Putting the H back in Health – why hygiene matters for NTDs

By Dr Om Prasad Gautam, Senior WASH Manager – Hygiene Behaviour Change, WaterAid and Sarity Dodson, Director of Research, Fred Hollows Foundation and Chair – NNN WASH Working Group

The importance of hygiene for human health has been recognised for centuries, but its crucial role in the prevention, treatment and care for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is often under-prioritised by programmes working to control these diseases.

Global Handwashing Day serves as an important reminder for NTD stakeholders to place hygiene at the heart of efforts to build a healthier, dignified and more equitable society. Clean hands, faces and bodies not only improve health, but bring broader social benefits and contribute to the dignity and overall wellbeing of individuals and society.