World Toilet Day
The UN marked November 19 as World Toilet Day to raise awareness about the lack of proper toilet facilities in the world
Wednesday marked the United Nations (UN) World Toilet Day.
The campaign intends to inspire action to end open defecation and underline how improved sanitation leads to a reduction in sexual violence on women and girls.
According to the UN’s website, toilets remain inadequate for the disabled and the elderly, with women and girls requiring facilities to manage menstrual hygiene. The problems identified by the UN could not be more apparent at Princess informal settlement, where women and girls lack privacy while using one of two communal toilets. As a result, residents use buckets at night for their safety.
Chantelle Meintjies, who is fortunate enough to have her shack next to the toilet said she fears for the coming summer months as the heat will worsen the smell coming from the toilet and the buckets being thrown out.
“In the summer it’s the worst and it affects our health badly, I live next to the toilet so it’s even worse for me,” she said.
