This might sound new to you but are you familiar with World Toilet Day yet? Just like all the other days celebrated worldwide, the 19th day of November is also considered a red letter day. But where does the significance lie? This specific day celebrated as World Toilet Day targets at raising the awareness of hygiene and sanitation problems worldwide. Poor hygiene and sanitation not only lead to health problems, but this also confines our access to safe and pure drinking water and the other secure uses of water.
In this article, we are going to unveil some significant facts about this very special day that aims not only at enhancing hygiene and sanitation but also at making better use of water.
Significant Points to Note
We all know that poor sanitation considerably increases the chances of health problems, especially among children and women. Believe or not but, as per the recent survey, 2.6 billion people are about 1/3rd of the entire population on the earth are lacking their access to safe sanitation. This is an alarming problem that is killing about 1 million children every year.
Considering all these problems, the United Nations designated World Toilet Day in July 2013. This was established by the World Toilet Organization in 2001 and World Toilet Day was made an official UN day in 2013. They aim at beating all the relevant problems and thus gradually turning the planet into a better living place for all of us.
People celebrate this day on November 19 annually. They take measures and thus show their support to their basic human rights that is access to sanitation and pure water.
Unveil the Key Facts
- It is shocking, but 673 million people still practise open defecation globally.
- Worldwide, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source polluted with feces.
- Poor sanitation is assessed to promote 432,000 diarrhoeal deaths every year.
2019 World Toilet Day Theme
Every year, for World Toilet Day, the United Nations decides a particular theme to promote a better progression. Just as that, the current year theme is ‘Leaving no one behind’. This year, if you dig deeper into the motto of celebrating this day, you find that a toilet means much more than just a lavatory. A proper awareness about using a toilet can save millions of lives, and this can bring countless opportunities. Also, this can protect your dignity.
You can easily estimate the dimension of the sanitation problem in developing countries such as India, Bangladesh, Africa, and others. But did you know that even in America, approximately 1.7 million Americans lack access to proper sanitation?
It doesn’t matter which country you live in. The fact is that sanitation is your human right. The current year mirrors that 4.2 billion people don’t have access to safe sanitation.
Therefore, it is high time we all stepped ahead and contributed to expanding access to safe toilets leaving no one behind.
‘Leaving No One Behind’- Theme of World Toilet Day 2019
It is not true that deprived people don’t try to overcome sanitation problems. However, whenever they try to take measures, they often encounter many biases. Most times, they are left behind when they strive to gain and maintain the advanced sanitation services.
World Toilet Day inspires the actions that can find a solution for the crisis of global sanitation. This can also help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 that promises hygiene and sanitation for all by 2030. Definitely, this measure has been paying special attention to the requirements of women and girls. Sanitation is our basic human right and World Toilet Day 2019 is aiming at assuring solutions to those people deprived of proper sanitation.
How You Can Participate In This Celebration
In the upcoming World Toilet Day, you can play your part in assuring no one is deprived of sanitization. How? Let’s check this out:
- Do your research. Read more and learn more.
- Share posts on social media to generate debate.
- Take actions by attending an event and using resources to get the mission accomplished.
So, in the USA, are you willing to take action on your part to accomplish this global mission? Spread awareness about the issues that can develop from poor sanitation and also about how a toilet can bring an end to all these problems. Of course, the general contractors can help you all the ways to get a good toilet in your house. So get ready to contribute to global sanitation.