How often do you think about your toilet? Or your sink? Do you only consider soap when you are running low? Today is globally recognized by the UN as World Toilet Day, a day when we recognize this critical convenience that often gets overlooked.
Around 60% of the world’s population – 4.5 billion people - either have no toilet at home or one that doesn't safely manage human waste. And nearly 900 million people still practice going into fields, forests, open bodies of water or other spaces instead of using a proper sanitation facility. This practice carries serious health and safety risks, as contact with human waste can cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, polio, diarrhea, worm infestation and malnutrition. Every day, more than 700 children under age 5 — about one every two minutes — die from diarrhea due to unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation or poor hygiene. [1] Without access to these basic services, poverty and disease abound. Poor sanitation is also linked to social and economic issues, along with negative environmental impacts[2].
This is why we are so thankful for our supporters and volunteer health worker colleague, Ramprasad (“Ram”), in Nepal! Ram has been one of the biggest proponents of building latrines in the remote Gorkha region. Ram facilitated a lot of education and awareness about the importance of using latrines for safely managing waste and reducing disease, paving the way for community acceptance and involvement in the building of 25 latrines (and counting)!
Today, as you drink tap water without fear, wash your hands with soap, or flush your toilet, we invite you to be mindful of these conveniences that also play a vital role in healthy living!
[1] https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/saving-lives-one-toilet-time/35145
[2] https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/67/291
