Celebrate World Sanitation Day!
World Toilet Day, in conjunction with World Portable Sanitation Day on November 19, is about taking action to reach the 2.4 billion people living without a toilet and inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. The theme of World Toilet Day 2017 is ‘wastewater,’ focusing on how proper sanitation allows for proper wastewater treatment and the safe reuse of recycled water.
Key facts:
2.4 billion people live without improved sanitation. – World Health Organization (WHO)/UNICEF 2015.
1 in 10 people has no choice but to defecate in the open. – WHO/UNICEF 2015.
Diarrhea 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 Organization (ILO) 2003.
Loss of productivity due to illnesses caused by lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices is estimates to cost many countries up to 5% of GDP. – Hutton 2012.
2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2.5 billion people globally – about a third of the world’s population – lack access to adequate sanitation. Of them, 946 million defecate in the open.* Additionally, between 2003 and 2012, an average of 216 million people were affected annually by natural disasters,** often resulting in compromised sanitation for individuals and communities.
August 15, 2014 marked the inaugural celebration of WPSD, and kicked off an ongoing campaign to raise awareness and promote change by engaging people all over the world in expanding access to sustainable sanitation. Over time, it is the goal of WPSD to transform their interest and ingenuity into local solutions that prevent the spread of disease, save water, and improve the quality of life. While the date has since bee moved from August 15 to November 19, in accordance with November 19’s World Toilet Day, the overarching goal has remained the same.
About the logo
The World Portable Sanitation Day (WPSD) logo symbolizes the vital relationships between people, the environment and portable sanitation through the use of a human face, portable restroom and the colors blue, green and white. The face represents humanity, all of whom can benefit from adequate sanitation. The portable restroom symbolizes dignity and safety, two primary needs of every person. The colors blue, green and white represent a clean, healthy environment that is the result of the proper sanitary conditions and also symbolize a connection to the Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI), an organization dedicated to preservation and protection of human health.
