Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and hepatitis A continue to impose a heavy public health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to safe water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services remains limited. Community Health Nurses (CHNs), with their direct interface with underserved populations, play a critical role in leading hygiene education and behavior change campaigns aimed at mitigating these preventable illnesses. This narrative review examines the role, strategies, and effectiveness of community nursing-led hygiene campaigns in combating waterborne diseases, based on analysis of secondary data sources including peer-reviewed publications, global health reports, and program evaluations. The review identifies a range of strategies employed by CHNs such as school-based hygiene sessions, door-to-door visits, participatory learning tools, and distribution of hygiene kits-designed to enhance knowledge and promote sustainable hygiene practices at the grassroots level. Evidence indicates that such nurse-led interventions have led to improved handwashing behaviors, safer water storage, increased latrine use, and reduced disease outbreaks in multiple regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Despite these successes, significant challenges persist, including limited funding, sociocultural barriers, lack of training, and gaps in policy support and intersect oral collaboration. The review highlights the need for greater investment in nurse training, inclusion of CHNs in national WASH strategies, and enhanced community engagement to ensure long-term sustainability of hygiene interventions. In conclusion, community health nurses serve as essential change agents in public health. Their leadership in hygiene campaigns not only improves immediate health outcomes but also contributes to long-term community resilience against waterborne diseases. Strengthening this role through policy and programmatic support can significantly advance global public health goals.