6 Facts To Ponder On The Potty

That’s right, 6 in 10 people don’t have access to a toilet or similar facilities that separate human waste from human contact. So for those of you with a toilet nearby, be thankful, because you’re one of the few that can poo in a loo.

Over 892 million people practice “open defecation” meaning they go out on the side of the road, in fields or bushes. This is extremely dangerous for the health of everyone in the community and for the safety of many women and girls who have to wait until after dark to go in the bushes.

Sanitation related diseases remain among the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old. In fact, over 800 children die every day from diarrhoea linked to unsafe water and poor hygiene.

Hygiene is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to keep children healthy. When children wash their hands with soap after going to the toilet and before eating, they reduce their risk of getting diarrhoea by more than 40 per cent. Next time you use the toilet make sure to wash your hands - your health depends on it.

In order to get everyone in the world using toilets, we need to triple our current efforts. That doesn’t just mean more toilets, but creating the desire for people to use them!

Enough said.