World Toilet Day: Did You Know That More People Have Access To A Mobile Phone Than A Toilet? ~ BimzTheory

Today is World Toilet Day, a day set aside by the United Nations, UN to recognize the importance of sanitation especially as regards bodily waste.

It is not unusual in this part of the world to see people openly defecating in public places because they don't have access to a proper toilet and the truth is that bodily waste is one of the most fundamental things that all humans have in common and its disposal needs to be managed properly.

Statistics have shown that over 2.5 Billion people worldwide don't have access to a safe, clean or private toilet hence it is a ticking bomb that can lead to a sanitation crisis.

Funny enough and in an irony of sorts, more people in the world have access to a mobile phone than a toilet and many people are left with no choice than to face the indignity of going to defecate in the open, where they are exposed to disease and vulnerable to harassment and even attack.

The theme for this year's World Toilet Day, is Equality and Dignity. In a joint report released by the UNICEF and World Health Organisation, WHO, Nigeria is among the top 5 countries in the world with the largest number of people defecating in the open! In numbers, 54 Million Nigerian women and girls lack safe and adequate sanitation and 17 Million of them do not have a toilet at all.

Poor hygiene has serious implications on health. Every year, over 85,000 mothers in Nigeria lose a child to diarrhoea diseases caused by a lack of adequate sanitation and clean water.

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However, there can actually be a change if toilet facilities are built in public schools, health care facilities, NYSC camps, market places and even public toilets in residential locations where not available.

Therefore, World Toilet Day is a day to take action and raise awareness about people who do not have access to a toilet despite the human right to water and sanitation so it is a global development priority.