Since 2001, the World Toilet Organization has been celebrating World Toilet Day along with its partners.  This year the United Nations has made it official- November 19th is World Toilet Day!
This may sound funny, but it is not a joke. When we talk about water, sanitation and hygiene,
that ‘sanitation’ part translates to toilets.  2.5 billion people do not have access to toilets that are private, safe or properly dispose of waste.  Imagine what this would be like.
The number two killer of children each year is diarrheal disease, killing approximately760,000 children under the age of five.  In areas where there are proper toilets, about one-third less children die from this cause. The number one killer of children under the age of five is Pneumonia, taking more lives than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.  World Vision is working in 9 of the 10 worst places in the world for a child to have pneumonia and recognizes key interventions to prevent and cure the disease. World health leaders are now also recognizing that sanitation needs to be a key part of prevention and treatment. Toilets are literally saving lives.
Most likely, we all have had a time in our lives when we have been incredibly grateful that we had access to a toilet nearby.  Today is a day to celebrate the role a simple toilet can play in helping more children live beyond five.
Photo: Mulugeta shows his innovative shower room and outhouse toilet, built with World Vision training. About two hours outside Addis Ababa Ethiopia, entire villages are going “open-defecation free.” That means if you poop—you pay—50 Birr (or almost $3.) ©2013 Jon Warren/World Vision