Environmental & Public Health International Marks World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day

Supporting equitable access to safe drinking water, climate action, and integrated public health protection aligned with global efforts.

Press Release

Chicago, Illinois – January 1, 2026
Environmental & Public Health International® (EPHI) announced its support for World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, reflecting established alignment between drinking water systems, climate-related public health conditions, and efforts led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to address preventable disease risks affecting vulnerable and underserved populations.

This alignment highlights the role of drinking water governance and climate-resilient public health systems as foundational elements of coordinated, long-term approaches to reducing preventable disease risks and advancing equitable health protection globally.

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is observed annually on January 30 and is recognized by the WHO as an official global health observance. The day marks progress under the WHO NTD Roadmap and serves as a moment to reaffirm the importance of coordinated, multisectoral action led by countries and supported by international partners.

NTDs disproportionately affect communities facing limited access to safe water and sanitation, environmental exposure risks, and constrained health system capacity. Addressing these diseases requires integrated approaches that strengthen underlying public health systems while addressing environmental and social determinants of health.

Drinking Water, Public Health, and Disease Prevention

Access to safe drinking water and effective water system governance are foundational public health measures that support disease prevention and health system resilience. Many neglected tropical diseases are closely linked to environmental conditions, including water quality, sanitation, and exposure pathways shaped by infrastructure and regulatory capacity.

EPHI’s work focuses on capacity building for drinking water regulators and public water systems, with an emphasis on preventing public health emergencies associated with water system failures and long-term exposure risks. Strengthening these systems supports broader efforts to reduce preventable disease burdens and advance health equity.

Climate Crisis and One Health

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a factor shaping the distribution and intensity of disease risk, particularly in communities facing environmental stressors and infrastructure vulnerabilities. Integrated One Health approaches that connect environmental conditions, climate impacts, and human health are central to sustaining progress toward disease elimination.

EPHI aligns its work with One Health principles by supporting climate-resilient drinking water infrastructure planning that strengthens integrated public health decision-making across sectors.

United Nations Framework Alignment

EPHI aligns its work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 13 on Climate Action. Its Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator® is recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement (PATPA) for advancing climate-resilient drinking water planning and subnational transparency.

“World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day underscores that progress depends not only on medical interventions, but on the public health systems that reduce exposure at its source,” said Anthony Ross, Director of Environmental & Public Health International.

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day provides a platform to reinforce the role of coordinated public health systems in sustaining progress toward disease elimination. Additional information is available through the World Health Organization.

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Media Contact

Anthony Ross
Director, Environmental & Public Health International
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