World Toilet Day
The United Nations General Assembly designated November 19 as World Toilet DayExternal to raise awareness of the 4.5 billion people around the world who are still living without access to a safe toilet. Without clean, safe toilets, human waste (poop) can contaminate communities’ food and water sources, which increases people’s chances of getting sick.
When there is no place to go…
- People go outside in the open (called open defecation).
- Open defecation often causes diarrheal diseases.
- Each day, nearly 1,000 children dieExternal from diarrhea related to poor sanitation and contaminated water sources.
Safe sanitation, the practice of good hygiene, and a safe water supply could save the lives of more than 350,000 children a yearExternal. You can help promote World Toilet Day in your community with these resourcesExternal.
- United Nations. Progress on Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Cdc-pdf[PDF – 66 pages]External
- United Nations. World Toilet DayExternal
- WASH United. Menstrual Hygiene DayExternal
- Public Library of Science. Sanitation practices and perceptions in Kakuma refugee camp, KenyaExternal