Be thankful you have a toilet to clean

Did you know that a third of the world’s population do not have access to a toilet. 

According the the World Health Organisation “Those who make do without toilets continue to pollute water sources and jeopardise public health and safety for millions worldwide, contributing to malnutrition and childhood stunting, impairing 161 million children both physically and mentally every year.”

Since 1990, 2.1 billion people have gained access to better sanitation facilities, however another 2.4 billion people have seen no improvements, including 946 million people still relieving themselves outdoors – the vast majority among the rural poor.

Diarrhoeal diseases kill 700,000 children every year, most of which could have been prevented with better sanitation. Along with the lack of toilets, 1 in 9 people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water. Without toilets and safe water—children die from preventable diseases.

India, for example, still needs to build 100 million toilets to provide everyone access. Toilets for women are in fact very important in India, but not necessarily for the reason you think. Young women needing to relieve themselves are in danger (in rural areas in particular) of being attacked and raped. Sadly only last year two teenagers were raped when they had to go outside into the dark field to relieve themselves.  A toilet closer to their home would have saved their lives.  At least 636 million Indians lack toilets, according to the latest census data, a crisis that contributes to disease, childhood malnutrition, loss of economic output and, as highlighted recently, violence against women.

So the next time you complain about cleaning your toilet, be thankful that you are one of the fortunate ones with a toilet that works well and you have 24 hour access to it in the safety of your own home.  There is no need for you or your family to wander out into the dark to find a spot in the middle of a field where it can be dangerous and frightening.

And as you turn on the tap in your kitchen or bathroom (grumbling that you have to wash the dishes)  remember that in other parts of the world, women and children spend in total 140 million hours a day collecting water (much not drinkable) just to undertake basic chores.

We need to always remember to count our blessings, each and every one.

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father

 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

(source: The Guardian 1st July 2015, 29th August 2014)

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jul/01/billions-have-no-access-to-toilets-says-world-health-organisation-report

******