WORLD TOILET DAY 2018

 “When nature calls, we listen and act”

Preparations to mark the world toilet day are in full gear. The region celebrations will be held in Masaka and Jinja districts.SDG 6 aims to ensure that everyone has a safe toilet and that no one practices open defecation by 2030 (UN 2018 SDG 6 synthesis report 2018 on water and sanitation), however its appalling that 4.5 billion live without safe toilets .892 million people still practice open defecation and 1.8 billion people use unimproved source of drinking water with no protection against contamination from human feces. WHO/UNICEF (2017) progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2017) While 900 million school children across the world have no handwashing facilities (WHO/UNICEF 2018 Drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in schools, 2018 Global Baseline Report)

In Uganda, 19% of the population has access to at least basic sanitation (28% urban, 17% rural) implying 31 million people do not have access to basic sanitation facilities. To address this plight many development partners have contributed to improved sanitation and USAID in particular has financed the Uganda sanitation for health (S4H) with the goal of increasing access to improved and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and behaviors in approximately 25 districts.

The Busoga regional Toilet day celebrations are going to be held at Seed school in Buwenge town council, Jinja district on 19^th November 2018, the expected guest of honor is the minister for cooperatives with a number of other invited guests.

In preparation for the celebrations, Sanitation for health (S4H) has called on development partners with in the district to be part of the organizing and exhibitions. To this therefore Alliance Water Solutions (AWASO) is working with BRAC Community Health Promoters (CHP) and Village health team (VHT) members of Buwenge to make that day worthy a learning place through:

• Sensitizing the community on the need for improved toilets that are washable, fly free and smell free
• Triggering the interest of the community in Smart toilet (SATO)
• Encouraging pit-latrine construction
• Hygiene improvement both at household, community level and schools
• Advocacy for the importance of use and construction of water-born toilets
• Emptying where need be

On behalf of Alliance Water Solutions (AWASO), accept our invitation to be part of this event as we improve our latrines and support those in need of our help, let us not keep quiet on open defecation and urination that is exposing our society to diseases. It starts with you, today do something better to improve your toilet and that of your neighbor.

 Happy World Toilet Day, “When nature calls, we listen and act”

Henry Lyadda

Program Administrator

Alliance Water Solutions