How Much Do You Know About World Toilet Day?

World Toilet Day, observed on November 19, aims to spotlight the global sanitation crisis. This day intends to provoke action, awareness, and solutions towards addressing the worldwide lack of proper sanitation. By highlighting the importance of accessible and clean sanitation, the day serves to raise consciousness and instigate measures to mitigate the challenges in this critical area.

The World Toilet Organization, a Singapore-based NGO, unofficially established World Toilet Day in 2001. The organization initiated this observance to bring attention to the critical global sanitation crisis and to encourage action and measures to address this fundamental issue impacting human lives worldwide.

SDG 6 aims to ensure access to toilets (sanitation services) for everyone by 2030. This target underlines the critical urgency to provide clean and safe sanitation facilities to all, contributing significantly to public health and well-being.

Open defecation poses severe health risks as it leads to the spread of infectious diseases due to direct human waste exposure. This practice significantly heightens the risk of waterborne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, diarrhea, and worm infestation, contributing to adverse health consequences within communities.

Ensuring universal access to toilets significantly contributes to improved sanitation. This, in turn, positively impacts health, education, and several aspects of people's lives, leading to overall social development and well-being.

UN-Water is responsible for selecting a unique theme annually for World Toilet Day, focusing on critical aspects of sanitation issues and global awareness.

SDG 6.2 specifically targets the eradication of open defecation and the provision of access to sanitation and hygiene for all, aligning with the broader goal of ensuring global sanitation.

Singapore played a pivotal role in officially declaring World Toilet Day as a UN observance. The nation tabled a resolution before the UN General Assembly, urging global acknowledgment and action on the worldwide sanitation crisis, marking a crucial step in recognizing the significance of proper sanitation and its impact on humanity.

World Toilet Day was declared an official UN day in the year 2013. This declaration followed Singapore's initiation of the resolution, marking the formal recognition of the day by the UN General Assembly. The designation aimed to focus global attention on the critical issue of sanitation and inspire action to address the worldwide sanitation crisis.

SDG 6 specifically aims at ensuring universal access to water and sanitation. It addresses the necessity for effective and sustainable management of these resources for all. The goal emphasizes the critical need to provide adequate and clean water sources alongside proper sanitation for every individual, marking a pivotal step toward healthier living conditions worldwide.

UN-Water holds the official role as the convener of World Toilet Day. This organization takes charge of coordinating and managing the official activities surrounding this significant day, maintaining the dedicated website and selecting an annual theme to raise awareness and promote action to resolve the global sanitation crisis.

The 2022 theme was "Groundwater and sanitation – making the invisible visible," focusing on bringing attention to the often overlooked aspects of groundwater and sanitation issues.

Influenza is not directly linked to poor sanitation. However, diseases like cholera, polio, and dysentery have strong correlations with unsanitary living conditions.

The 2019 theme focused on 'Leaving no one behind,' echoing the central theme of the Sustainable Development Goals. It emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to proper sanitation for every individual globally.

The 2020 theme was "Sustainable sanitation and climate change." This theme highlighted the crucial link between sustainable sanitation practices and their impact on climate change, emphasizing the need for eco-friendly sanitation solutions for a healthier environment.