There is nothing glamorous about sanitation. Talking about fecal sludge can be something of a conversation stopper. The initial response to mentioning World Toilet Day — which is tomorrow — is often a smile.
But lack of sanitation is not funny. It is a major cause of death and disease and a serious, if too often ignored, barrier to development.
Poor sanitation, for example, contributes to over 500,000 child deaths from diarrhea every year. Half of all hospital visits in developing countries are a direct result of inadequate or nonexistent sanitation.
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About the author
Brian Arbogast
Brian Arbogast leads the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's effort to bring groundbreaking innovations in sanitation technology. Arbogast was previously a corporate vice president at Microsoft Corporation, leading an international portfolio of research and development projects. More recently, he concentrated in cleantech and international development, driving market solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
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