In February 2015, CARE, supported by Johnson & Johnson, initiated the Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Implementation Models for Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Prevention project (I-WASH/NTDs) to investigate barriers to and success in WASH and NTD collaboration. The project was initiated to support the government of Ethiopia in its efforts to combat NTDs that are endemic to 746 woredas nationally.

As a part of this pilot, supported by Johnson & Johnson, CARE has added NTD prevention elements and activities to its longstanding water, sanitation and hygiene program in the South Gondar Zone of the Amhara region. Thus, in addition to improving WASH access and behaviors, the I-WASH/NTD program helped CARE and partners to focus deliberately on NTD prevention and work with government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach to NTD prevention and control. Key program elements included increased access to WASH, support for mass drug administration, increased knowledge and practice of specific prevention behaviors at the community-level and increased coordination between local government offices, community members, and health and research institutions working in WASH and NTD prevention and control.