World Toilet Day To Highlight Global Sanitation Crisis Affecting 2.6 Billion People

World Toilet Day was created to raise global awareness of the struggle 2.6 billion people face every day without access to proper, clean sanitation.

AsianScientist (Nov. 19, 2011) – In 2001, the World Toilet Organization (WTO) declared November 19 as World Toilet Day. Today, it is celebrated in over 19 countries with over 51 events being hosted by various water and sanitation advocates.

Figures released by UNICEF & the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that 2.6 billion people are without access to adequate, clean sanitation – a staggering 40 percent of the world’s population.

World Toilet Day was created to raise global awareness of the struggle these people face every day without access to proper, clean sanitation. It brings to the forefront the health, emotional and psychological consequences the poor endure as a result of inadequate sanitation.

This year, The World Toilet Summit 2011 will be held in Hainan province in November 22 to 24, and will serve as a platform for discussion on the global sanitation crisis.

Previous summits were held in Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, Belfast, Moscow, Bangkok, New Delhi, Macau and Philadelphia.

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Source: World Toilet Organization.
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