Tanzania is intensifying efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with the government and development partners strengthening collaboration across the health, water, sanitation and environmental health sectors to tackle diseases that continue to affect some of the country's most vulnerable communities.
The renewed commitment was underscored during the WASH-NTD Forum held in Dodoma on June 30, 2026, where policymakers, health experts and development partners reviewed progress, identified persistent challenges and outlined strategies to accelerate the country's NTD elimination agenda.
Opening the forum, the Ministry of Health's Director of Preventive Services, Dr Otilia Gowele, said the fight against neglected tropical diseases requires coordinated action that extends beyond the health sector.
She said the forum was designed to strengthen institutional coordination while creating a platform for stakeholders to assess achievements, exchange lessons and develop practical solutions to barriers slowing progress towards eliminating the diseases.
"Eliminating neglected tropical diseases depends on strong collaboration across sectors. Through this forum, we are developing joint strategies that will improve people's health and help us achieve our national elimination targets," Dr Gowele said.
She noted that the government, in partnership with development organisations, has continued investing in clean water supply, sanitation infrastructure and community health education, describing the interventions as indispensable in preventing disease transmission and sustaining long-term public health gains.
Dr Gowele said expanding access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services remains one of the most effective and sustainable approaches to reducing the burden of neglected tropical diseases, particularly in underserved and high-risk communities.
She added that integrating WASH interventions with disease prevention programmes would not only reduce infections but also improve the overall wellbeing and productivity of affected populations.
Helen Keller International Tanzania Country Director, Dr George Kabona, said eliminating neglected tropical diseases demands sustained investment and coordinated implementation involving government institutions, development partners and local communities.
He observed that preventive treatment programmes alone would not achieve lasting results unless they were complemented by improved access to clean water, sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion and quality healthcare services.
"The success of the fight against neglected tropical diseases depends on sustained investment in water, sanitation, health education and treatment services, supported by strong collaboration across sectors," Dr Kabona said.
He emphasised that integrated approaches are critical to ensuring that preventive and curative interventions reach populations living in disease-endemic areas, where inadequate water and sanitation continue to fuel transmission.
The forum forms part of Tanzania's broader strategy to integrate health and WASH programmes in line with global efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases.
By bringing together government agencies, development partners and technical experts, the initiative seeks to strengthen policy coordination and accelerate progress towards ending diseases that disproportionately affect poor and marginalised communities.
Health experts say sustained cross-sector collaboration, backed by increased investment in essential public health infrastructure, will be crucial if Tanzania is to achieve its long-term goal of eliminating neglected tropical diseases as a public health threat.
