Neftaly Statement: Climate Change, Sanitation, and Public Health

At Neftaly, we recognize that climate change and inadequate sanitation are deeply interconnected challenges with profound consequences for public health—especially in vulnerable communities across Africa and the Global South.

As climate change intensifies, it exacerbates water scarcity, floods, and natural disasters. These climate-related pressures strain existing sanitation infrastructure, leading to increased exposure to pathogens, contaminated water, and waste mismanagement. Inadequate sanitation, in turn, contributes to the spread of diarrheal diseases, cholera, malnutrition, and waterborne infections, disproportionately affecting children and low-income populations.

Key public health outcomes linked to poor sanitation under climate stress include:

• Increased incidence of infectious diseases
• Higher child mortality rates due to waterborne illnesses
• Elevated risk of antimicrobial resistance due to unmanaged waste
• Deterioration of maternal and reproductive health outcomes
• Reduced educational attainment due to sanitation-related absenteeism

Neftaly advocates for climate-resilient sanitation systems, integrated public health planning, and cross-sector collaboration. Investing in sustainable sanitation solutions is not only a moral imperative—it is essential for climate adaptation and improving health outcomes at scale.

We call on governments, civil society, and the private sector to prioritize sanitation as a critical health and climate intervention, ensuring no one is left behind.

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