World Toilet Day 2024: Toilets are a place for peace

Toilets are a place for peace

Hello, I’m Sofonie Dala, a Chevening Scholar pursuing my MSc in Environmental Sustainability Education and Communication at the University of York. 

Today, I want to talk to you about an issue that affects billions of people globally: sanitation. On November 19th, we celebrate World Toilet Day, a day to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis and the 3.5 billion people still living without access to safely managed sanitation.”

I’m from Angola, where access to water remains a huge challenge. Nearly half the population of Angola, 49.3%, lacks access to clean drinking water. More than half of schools, 54.7%, do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities, and 68.6% of schools lack hand-washing facilities. 

In the capital, Luanda, only 32% of the population has access to piped water. These figures highlight the urgent need for infrastructure and sustainable water management in the country.

Contrast this with the UK, where sanitation infrastructure is generally reliable, but even here in York, specialists have raised concerns about water wastage. Clean drinking water is being used in toilets, which is both inefficient and unsustainable.

To improve sanitation in Angola, we need investments in infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and a focus on water conservation. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. In the UK, we should push for water-saving technologies like dual-flush toilets and educate people about using water more responsibly.

As we celebrate World Toilet Day, let’s remember that sanitation isn’t just about toilets – it’s about dignity, health, and peace. For a sustainable future, we need action, now.