Swiss TPH works on aspects of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in countries where drinking water is scarce and where poor hygiene is a leading cause of infectious disease. WASH plays a major role in integrated approaches to fight helminth infections in Africa and Asia. Moreover, experts improve sanitation facilities in health centres or schools, teach pupils or household members in questions related to food and kitchen hygiene or assess people’s health risks arising from contaminated water bodies.

Legionnaires’ Disease in Switzerland

Legionnaires’ disease (LD) is a severe form of pneumonia. n the past 7 years, the number of reported cases has more than doubled, reaching an annual incidence of 7.8 cases per 100'000 population in 2021. Identifying the main drivers of infection will be crucial to facilitate targeted prevention and control efforts. Swiss TPH is conducting the first national study on LD in Switzerland, investigating host, behavioural and environmental risk factors for community-acquired LD. and the prevalence and virulence of different Legionella strains detected across Switzerland. Read more about the SwissLegio study

Hand Hygiene, Water Quality and Sanitation in Primary Health Care Facilities and Schools

Current technologies and approaches to improve water, sanitation and hygiene are fragmented. Hands4health focuses on the development, testing, evaluation and scaling up of new water efficient hand washing technologies as well as on a holistic approach to hand hygiene, water quality and sanitation. To leave no one behind, the project works in primary health care facilities and schools not connected to a functional water supply system in in four target countries and beyond. Read more