The organisation helping to improve sanitation for the 2.5bn people in the world who don’t have access to a decent toilet has reported an upsurge in twinning applications from people in the Isle of Man following a local campaign in One World Week last month.
Toilet Twinning reports that 21 new toilet twinning applications have been received in recent weeks – 14 of these were from individuals, 5 from churches and 2 from schools.
The One World Centre is now asking businesses to get on board using World Toilet Day next Wednesday 19th November as a focus.
“We’re really pleased to see the big increase in toilet twinnings from the Island, it’s great to see people getting involved with helping improve the health and livelihoods of people in less developed countries,” says One World Centre Director Rosemary Clarke.
“The challenge now is to get local businesses involved – there are lots of fun fund-raising ideas that could be used to generate interest in the workplace, from quizzes to creative challenges with loo rolls or perhaps cake bakes or auctions where people can be encouraged spend their pennies.”
Lack of access to sanitation carries significant human costs according to a report by the World Bank. Poor sanitation, water, and hygiene lead to about 700,000 premature deaths annually. It is also estimated that 443 million school days are lost every year due to water, sanitation, and hygiene related diseases.
Women who lack access are forced to go out in open areas, and are more susceptible to sexual harassment and violence. Girls often drop out of education when their school lacks private sanitation facilities.
One of the United Nation’s Millennium Goals was to halve the number of people without improved sanitation by 2015, yet despite progress some areas such as sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 150 years behind target.
“It can be hard for us in the Isle of Man to appreciate the difficulties poor sanitation causes,” says Rosemary. “Helping to build a simple latrine can improve not only people’s health but their economic prospects and their communities as well.”
For more information on fundraising tips and World Toilet Day visit:
www.toilettwinning.org/on-a-roll-/ or www.unwater.org/worldtoiletday
