By: Serena O’ Sullivan, End Water Poverty

Today marks World Toilet Day – and jokes aside – it’s a day to both appreciate the sanitation facilities the majority of the world enjoys, but most importantly take action for the 2.6 billion people still living without safe and adequate sanitation, the 4000 children that die each day as a result, and the millions more whose health is affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

How does the sanitation and water crisis affect NTD rates?

Many NTDs are closely linked with poor sanitation and water provision. For example, about 200 million people globally are infected with schistosomiasis, which causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This disease results from the unhealthy disposal of human waste and the lack of safe water. But sanitation provision can reduce this disease by as much as 77%.

Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) spreads just through contaminated water. It causes long-term disability, and before recent interventions, GWD caused millions of dollars in economic losses per year and decreased school attendance in some areas by a massive 60. And the figures speak for themselves on the link between this disease and improved water provision: better water supplies can result in a 78% reduction in GWD.

With this evidence and with the solutions becoming clear, the world must act decisively to end the crisis so cruelly affecting those in developing countries. Children must be healthy and receive an education– and effective sanitation and water provision is a massive part of this ambition

How can we end the crisis?

End Water Poverty has been working tirelessly for three years to bring attention to the crisis by working with a wide range of organisations in its membership. Our members will be using World Toilet Day to demand change from governments who have the power to create and fund country wide sanitation and water plans. Amongst many others, we applaud the actions of Save the Children and the World Toilet Organisation in raising awareness of the crisis and working to improve the lives of school children everywhere.

Awareness raising is important, and so are worldwide policy improvements.  Recently established, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is an initiative championed by End Water Poverty. It’s a global partnership of donor countries, developing governments and civil society all working together to make change happen. And its success is crucial if we are to stop the crisis.

Your action makes a difference

It’s simple and effective to campaign against the water and sanitation crisis. We must show governments that we support and demand action to halt the spread of NTDs and ensure more people get access to water and sanitation. Here are a few suggestions for you to get more involved:

• Sign our World Toilet Day petition demanding decisive action from governments and their support to the SWA.
• Find out about our future campaign activity – The World Walks for Water – and prepare to get involved!
• and to raise awareness of the crisis amongst your peers.