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We would find it extremely difficult & uncomfortable to live without them. We use them several times every day – at home, work, school, college, eating out, recreational outings, shopping trips – we take them for granted expecting, no…insisting they are part of our everyday life.
We seldom talk about them…
Maybe we would if we knew that more than 1,000 children die every day as a direct consequence of not having them! Diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for more child deaths than AIDS, malaria & measles combined.
You’ve guessed by now of course, I’m talking about toilets!
When the marketing team reminded me it was my turn to write a blog for the Directors Blog page on our site, I wanted to share my thoughts about my recent attendance at the Loo of the Year Awards. We try to go every year…but I’ll talk about that a bit later…
Anyway, I decided to do a little research & found something very topical, in fact I’ve probably beaten ECJ to press with this!
Only this week the WTO, not the well known World Trade Organisation, but the World Toilet Organisation hosted the 14th World Toilet Summit in New Delhi, India. This global non-profit making organisation committed to improving toilet & sanitation conditions worldwide, established since 2001, has lobbied governments, public & private sector stakeholders & the international community to put sanitation at the forefront of the development agenda.
Many people wouldn’t know or probably care there is a World Toilet Organisation, or that November 19th 2001, was the day of the inaugural World Toilet Summit.
Maybe they would if they knew that UNICEF has estimated that around 1 billion people still face the indignity of openly defecating in our world today & 2.5 billion people don’t have access to a clean & safe toilet.
In fact how many people know of the 2013 key milestone event for the global sanitation movement when 122 countries co-sponsored a UN resolution tabled by the Singapore government to designate 19th November, World Toilet Day as an official United Nations day.
This is a massive issue & deserves any support & coverage it can gain. If you want to do more then check out the website here
We know these high levels of poverty exist & all the associated health issues. There is a certain, almost desperation to get potable water & good sanitation, but why does this all take so long?
Now let’s look at our supposedly “civilised “ world, where most of the population have had access to reasonably hygienic toilets for around 150 years; one or more toilets in any home is now a given & the ability to satisfy the need to go when out in public has always been easy.
Since the boom years in the late Victorian era, when public conveniences sprung up everywhere, there has been a change, not in the home but “away from home”. In recent decades public toilets have become run down, unloved, targeted by vandals & increasingly prone to closure by councils looking for cuts.
People most affected by this increasing toilet drought are the disabled, the elderly & parents with young children. And many people are shy about cheekily using toilets in shops, restaurants, bars & pubs.
What’s happening in our world? Let’s put it into perspective as everything is relative, I know it’s not even on the scale when compared to 1 billion people “going” almost anywhere, but without the ability to use the toilet “away from home” the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people is severely restricted.
The UK version of the WTO, The British Toilet Association is also a non-profit making organisation, working to promote the highest standards of hygiene in all “away from home” toilet facilities across the United Kingdom.
It is, in my opinion a fantastic organisation working to improve the lives of many & save our loo’s.
In December Vectair® supported & exhibited at the “Loo of the Year Awards”, an event that always delights me… Not only are we helping to support an organisation that works closely with the BTA but also help the association to work towards its simple objective, namely, to encourage the highest possible standards in all “away from home” or public toilets.
Do you think they might get to this in the “developing world”?
It is fantastic to see the joy & huge smiles on peoples’ faces as they are recognised for achieving the highest levels of hygiene in the particular washroom facility that they personally look after.
Known as the “Oscars of the toilet industry”, entries come from far & wide, from Asda, Tesco & JD Wetherspoon to Wychavon District Council & Ceredigion County Council, who were both award winners in the ‘Public Toilet’ category.
Take a look at their websites & get on board with your support…even if cash is not available, spread the word, make people aware of the plight…an extra signature on a petition will help!
It’s important to consider that the everyday problems that millions (and possibly billions) have to deal with regularly in the less developed countries, but which go unnoticed to those living in developed nations, could become an issue for everyone if we overlook the importance of a clean, hygienic toilet.
By Rich Martin | Commercial Director as part of the Directors Blog
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