The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (Global Network) and Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) are proud to collaborate on advancing integrated, cost-effective and high-impact strategies to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) around the world.
At the Stockholm International Water Institute’s (SIWI) World Water Week, His Excellency John A. Kufuor, former president of the Republic of Ghana (2001-2009), Global Network’s NTD Special Envoy and Chair of SWA, will champion the urgency of developing cross-sector partnerships to expand access to safe water and adequate sanitation and halt the transmission of debilitating NTDs, which are often spread through inadequate water supply, poor sanitation and lack of hygiene.
Throughout the week, President Kufuor will share his commitment to tackling these issues during official conference sessions, including the Africa Day Session – hosted by the African Union Commission, and the Stockholm Water Prize Seminar – chaired by the King of Sweden, His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf. President Kufuor will share his experiences as former President of Ghana in increasing political commitment to support national integrated WASH and health approaches and suggest how Ghana’s successes and lessons learned about political leadership can be applied to other countries.
Ultimately, achieving the current Millennium Development Goals and the next targets set in the post-2015 development agenda is dependent upon the development of programs that recognize the fundamental interconnectivity between WASH and NTD control. The Global Network and SWA are leading joint efforts to tackle WASH and NTDs synergistically to realize significant progress in alleviating the suffering of the world’s poorest people.
About the Global Network
The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases is an advocacy initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute that works in partnership with international agencies, governments, academic institutions, corporations, non-governmental development organizations and the general public to raise the awareness, political will and funding necessary to control and eliminate the seven most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2020. For more information, please visit www.globalnetwork.org.
About the Sabin Vaccine Institute
The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization of scientists, researchers and advocates dedicated to reducing needless human suffering from vaccine-preventable and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Since its founding in 1993 in honor of Dr. Albert B. Sabin, the developer of the oral polio vaccine, Sabin has been at the forefront of global efforts to eliminate, prevent and cure infectious and neglected tropical diseases.
Sabin develops new vaccines, advocates for increased use of existing vaccines and promotes expanded access to affordable medical treatments in collaboration with governments, academic institutions, scientists, medical professionals and other non-profit organizations. For more information, please visit www.sabin.org.
About Sanitation and Water for All
Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global partnership of governments, donors, civil society organizations and other development partners working together to coordinate high-level action, improve accountability and use scarce resources more effectively. Over 90 partners are committed to achieving universal access to clean water and adequate sanitation. For more information, please visit www.sanitationandwaterforall.org.