Integration of water, sanitation, and hygiene for the prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases: a rationale for inter-sectoral collaboration.

Improvements of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and appropriate health-seeking behavior are necessary for achieving sustained control, elimination, or eradication of many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Indeed, the global strategies to fight NTDs include provision of WASH, but few programs have specific WASH targets and approaches. Collaboration between disease control programs and stakeholders in WASH is a critical next step. A group of stakeholders from the NTD control, child health, and WASH sectors convened in late 2012 to discuss opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration. The group agreed on a common vision, namely "Disease-free communities that have adequate and equitable access to water and sanitation, and that practice good hygiene." Four key areas of collaboration were identified, including (i) advocacy, policy, and communication; (ii) capacity building and training; (iii) mapping, data collection, and monitoring; and (iv) research. We discuss strategic opportunities and ways forward for enhanced collaboration between the WASH and the NTD sectors

Enhancing the sensitivity of atom-interferometric inertial sensors using robust control

Abstract Atom-interferometric quantum sensors could revolutionize navigation, civil engineering, and Earth observation. However, operation in real-world environments is challenging due to external interference, platform noise, and constraints on size, weight, and power. Here we experimentally demonstrate that tailored light pulses designed using robust control techniques mitigate significant error sources in an atom-interferometric accelerometer. To mimic the effect of unpredictable lateral platform motion, we apply laser-intensity noise that varies up to 20% from pulse-to-pulse. Our robust control solution maintains performant sensing, while the utility of conventional pulses collapses. By measuring local gravity, we show that our robust pulses preserve interferometer scale factor and improve measurement precision by 10× in the presence of this noise. We further validate these enhancements by measuring applied accelerations over a 200 μ g range up to 21× more precisely at the highest applied noise level. Our demonstration provides a pathway to improved atom-interferometric inertial sensing in real-world settings

Integration of water, sanitation, and hygiene for the prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases: a rationale for inter-sectoral collaboration.

Improvements of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and appropriate health-seeking behavior are necessary for achieving sustained control, elimination, or eradication of many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Indeed, the global strategies to fight NTDs include provision of WASH, but few programs have specific WASH targets and approaches. Collaboration between disease control programs and stakeholders in WASH is a critical next step. A group of stakeholders from the NTD control, child health, and WASH sectors convened in late 2012 to discuss opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration. The group agreed on a common vision, namely "Disease-free communities that have adequate and equitable access to water and sanitation, and that practice good hygiene." Four key areas of collaboration were identified, including (i) advocacy, policy, and communication; (ii) capacity building and training; (iii) mapping, data collection, and monitoring; and (iv) research. We discuss strategic opportunities and ways forward for enhanced collaboration between the WASH and the NTD sectors

Opportunities and next steps in capacity building and training.

<p>Opportunities and next steps in capacity building and training.</p

Opportunities and next steps in advocacy for WASH and NTD sectors.

<p>Opportunities and next steps in advocacy for WASH and NTD sectors.</p

Joint advocacy and harmonized messaging between WASH and NTD sectors as “constructive interference.” Figure adapted from http://www.physicsnet.co.uk[37].

<p>Joint advocacy and harmonized messaging between WASH and NTD sectors as “constructive interference.” Figure adapted from <a href="http://www.physicsnet.co.uk" target="_blank">http://www.physicsnet.co.uk</a><a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002439#pntd.0002439-PhysicsNetcouk1" target="_blank">[37]</a>.</p

WASH-related NTDs and transmission mechanisms.

<p>Table adapted from „WASH: the silent weapon against NTDs” <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002439#pntd.0002439-WaterAid1" target="_blank">[36]</a>. Table represents the strength of connection between, and potential impact of, WASH and disease, starting at the top, where WASH impact on disease is likely to be strongest and moving to the bottom of the table, where impact may be weakest.</p>a<p>World Health Organization, “Prevention of blindness and visual impairment” 2012. <a href="http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/priority/en/index2.html" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/priority/en/index2.html</a> (accessed: 5 August 2012).</p>b<p>World Health Organization, “Intestinal worms” 2012. <a href="http://www.who.int/intestinal_worms/en/" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/intestinal_worms/en/</a> (accessed 5 August 2012); World Health Organization, “Neglected tropical diseases” 2012. <a href="http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/diseases/strongyloidiasis/en/" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/diseases/strongyloidiasis/en/</a> (accessed: 5 August 2012).</p>c<p>World Health Organization, “Schistosomiasis: fact sheet no. 115” 2012. <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs115/en/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs115/en/index.html</a> (accessed: 5 August 2012).</p>d<p>World Health Organization, “Drancunculiasis: fact sheet no. 359” 2012. <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs359/en/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs359/en/index.html</a> (accessed: 5 August 2012).</p>e<p>World Health Organization, “Lymphatic filariasis: fact sheet no. 102” 2012. <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/index.html</a> (accessed: 5 August 2012).</p>f<p>World Health Organization, “Dengue and severe fever: fact sheet no. 117” 2012. <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/index.html</a> (accessed: 5 August 2012).</p>g<p>World Health Organization, “Priority eye diseases” 2012. <a href="http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/priority/en/index3.html(accessed:5" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/priority/en/index3.html(accessed: 5</a> August 2012).</p

Definitions of WASH and NTD sectors.

<p>Definitions of WASH and NTD sectors.</p

Recent meetings to discuss NTD-WASH sector collaboration.

<p>Recent meetings to discuss NTD-WASH sector collaboration.</p