Connecting Human, Animal, and Environmental Health to Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases Across East Africa

The COHNTD is a multi-institutional collaboration hosted in Trans Nzoia County, Western Kenya — a region adjacent to Mt. Elgon, recognized as a hotspot for neglected tropical diseases. We bring together experts from across Africa and beyond, applying the One Health approach to connect human, animal, and environmental health in the fight against NTDs and to strengthen community resilience. Through research, education, and community partnerships, we aim to build sustainable health systems and drive locally led innovation across the region.

We are guided by a multi-institutional governance model that promotes regional collaboration and integrated leadership. Its structure includes a Steering Committee with representatives from academic institutions, government bodies, and NGOs — including Kibabii University, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Centre, Tufts University, ElsMed, USIU, CTI Africa, and local counties such as Trans Nzoia and Bungoma. An international Advisory Board of experts in One Health, medicine, and policy provides strategic guidance, while specialized Technical Working Groups (TWGs) drive implementation across key focus areas such as NTDs, zoonoses, environmental health, and gender inclusion. To ensure alignment across national boundaries, our Regional Coordination Desk plays a vital liaison role with ministries and government agencies in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The desk supports policy harmonization, resource coordination, and the scaling of successful models and innovations across the region. Together, this comprehensive governance model ensures that COHNTD remains regionally grounded, technically rigorous, and globally connected in its mission to eliminate neglected tropical diseases and strengthen community health systems.