#WorldToiletDay: One in 10 people has no choice but to defecate in the open
The UN and its partners are getting the message out that toilets save lives
World Toilet Day on November 19 is about taking action to reach the 2.4 billion people living without a toilet.
The theme of World Toilet Day 2016 is “toilets and jobs”, focusing on how sanitation, or the lack of it, can impact people’s livelihoods.
Sanitation is a global development priority. The Sustainable Development Goals, launched in 2015, include a target to ensure everyone everywhere has access to toilets by 2030.
Toilets play a crucial role in creating a strong economy, as well as improving health and protecting people’s safety and dignity, particularly women’s and girls’.
The UN and its partners are getting the message out that toilets save lives, increase productivity, create jobs and grow economies.
To take action and join the global movement, go to www.worldtoiletday.info
Top facts
2.4 billion People live without improved sanitation (World Health Organisation (WHO)/UNICEF 2015).
One in ten people has no choice but to defecate in the open (WHO/UNICEF 2015).
Diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation and unsafe water kills 315 000 children every year (WAS-Hwatch 2016).
Disease transmission at work mostly caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, causes 17% of all workplace deaths (International Labour Organisation (ILO) 2003).
Loss of productivity due to illnesses caused by lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices is estimated to cost many countries up to 5% of GDP (Hutton 2012)
