Each year, we join the observance of World Toilet Day and this year’s theme is about valuing toilets which aims to tackle on the prime importance of hygiene and sanitation worldwide.

This campaign draws attention where the sanitation crisis of toilet system globally is uneconomical, poorly managed and often neglected posing serious public health problems in most marginalized communities especially to people who don’t have access to proper toilet. Thus, this year’s celebration is also in line with achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number six (6): clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.

When we think about nutrition, it doesn’t immediately ring a bell to think of toilets. But what do toilets really have to do with nutrition? There are many potential factors as to how toilets affect one’s health. One of which is the improper disposal of human waste or referred to as open defecation.

Open defecation simply means that human feces are deposited anywhere. It may be on the forests, open bodies of water, fields and other open spaces. When this happens, our water source has been contaminated and when ingested can cause diarrhea, vomiting and intestinal worms. In some cases, where a child is playing on the same field and is unaware of the contaminants in the ground and directly putting it on their mouth, can cause adverse health effects thus leading to malnutrition.

In fact, according to World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one (1) billion or 15% of the world population still practice open defecation and roughly there are 58% of diarrhea that is associated with unclean water, poor sanitation and hygiene.

Proper usage of toilets prevents the bacteria and germs from the fecal matter from getting into our environment where we get our food thus protecting our health and reduce the cases of global malnutrition.

As the evidence continues to link between toilets and nutrition, we must work closely to improve sustainable sanitation and help spread the word of the importance of behavior change in proper disposal of human waste. (PNFP Lizelle Bete)

References:

United Nations. (2021). World Toilet Day. https://www.un.org/en/observances/toilet-day

World Health Organization. (2013). Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water. https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/2013/jmp_fast_facts.pdf?ua=1

World Bank Organization. (2019, November 19). Better together: Toilets and nutrition. https://blogs.worldbank.org/water/better-together-toilets-and-nutrition