Global Health

Spread the Word about Good Hygiene: World Toilet Day

by Mike Smith

category: Water And Sanitation

Published November 19, 2009 @ 04:24PM PT

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World Toilet Day isn't the easiest day of the activist's year to promote. But ensuring good public hygiene is a very effective method of slowing the spread of disease and illness. The problem is that toilets and adequate sanitation just isn't cool, and it isn't much of an aspirational campaign.

The people behind World Toilet Day are trying to change that. They explain to Reuters that "It is a sensitive issue, but a serious one that has to be a shared responsibility of the government, companies and people."

One method is to keep toilets clean on trains, in return for advertising space, thus spreading the message that good sanitation is the norm, and that public defecation is damaging to society. The World Trade Organization, reports the Hindustan Times, is attempting to mainstream a culture of cleanliness. In the run up to the Commonwealth Games, being held in India, they want to eliminate the stigma around sanitation. Another method, as we recently reported, involves the 'No Toilet, No Bride' campaign. Rather than provide toilets, they are working to change society and make people desire toilets, then using the private sector to provide toilets. It's not the easiest campaign to sell, but that doesn't make it any less important.

Photo: runran