A Dignified Solution: Celebrating World Toilet Day
On November 19th, Pump Aid celebrate World Toilet Day, a day that highlights an issue that is often overlooked but crucial to health, dignity, and sustainability—access to toilets. It is a day to acknowledge the 3.6 billion people globally who lack safely managed sanitation and the vital work being done to close this gap.
For rural communities in Malawi, where over half of the population lacks access to basic sanitation, the consequences are far-reaching. Poor sanitation is not just an issue of comfort but one of health and survival. Without proper toilets, human waste contaminates water sources, leading to outbreaks of deadly diseases such as cholera. Children, in particular, suffer from these diseases, affecting their education and long-term development.
At Pump Aid, we are committed to addressing these challenges head-on by installing and maintaining safe sanitation facilities in communities and schools. Our sanitation projects don’t just provide physical infrastructure but also include hygiene education, empowering communities to manage and maintain their facilities long after our work is done.
Case Study:
Before Pump Aid’s intervention, Tigwirane Manja CBCC lacked access to safe water and improved latrines, causing frequent delays in daily activities and increasing cases of diarrhoea among children. With funding, Pump Aid constructed a new water point and modern latrines, transforming the CBCC’s environment.
“We used to spend most of our time fetching water, which delayed classes and increased cases of diarrhea due to unsafe water,” said Dominic Katulo, a caregiver. Now, with handwashing facilities and clean water, children are learning and practicing better hygiene, a habit they even carry home.
The availability of water has also allowed caregivers to start a kitchen garden, which was previously impossible. “We now have spacious toilets, and more children can use them at the same time, reducing mess and promoting cleanliness,” said Celina Raphael, another caregiver.
World Toilet Day serves as a reminder that sanitation is a human right, not a privilege. By supporting Pump Aid, you are helping us provide dignified, safe sanitation for communities who need it most, ensuring that no one has to face the indignity or danger of living without a toilet.
Together, we can build a future where access to toilets and safe sanitation is universal, improving health, protecting the environment, and restoring dignity to all.
