Sanitation is not sexy. But World Toilet Day is an annual reminder of just how vital it is for health, human rights and even economic development.
“One of the historical reasons as to why people don’t focus on sanitation, and it is still true today, is that it is not sexy,” Rosie Wheen, chief executive for WaterAid Australia, told Devex. “People will often prioritize and talk about water, but sanitation not so much. It is seen more as a household issue.”
In fact, safe sanitation is far more. It not only provides people with the most basic rights but can also drive growth. South Korea, Thailand and Singapore are examples of countries that saw their economies boom as sanitation access improved.