Press Release - World Toilet Day
Press Release: World Toilet Day-“Equality, Dignity and the Link Between Gender-Based Violence and Sanitation”
- A threat of sexual violence that women and the girl child face due to the loss of privacy.
- 21 million Kenyans use unsanitary or shared latrines
- 5.6 million people in the country have no access to latrine and defecate in the open
Nairobi, Kenya - The World Toilet Day was held at Butula Youth Polytechnic in Busia County on 19th November, 2015. The event seeks to raise awareness on lack of access to toilet facilities despite the human right to water and sanitation. It is a day to take action and a call on all stakeholders to intervene to end open defecation.
The theme for this years World Toilet Day is “Equality, Dignity and the Link Between Gender-Based Violence and Sanitation” It seeks to enlighten and put a focus on the threat of sexual violence that women and girls face due to the loss of privacy as well as the inequalities that are present in usability of latrines. However toilets and latrines remain inadequate for populations with special needs, such as the disabled and elderly, and women and girls requiring facilities to manage their monthly menstrual hygiene.
“The day is an opportunity to inspire action and underscore the urgency needed to end open defecation, especially for the women and girls who are particularly vulnerable to rape and defilement in areas where there are currently no access to latrines. As a child focused organisation we need to focus more to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable children in the community” says World Vision Kenya National Director Mr. Dickens Thunde.
According to a 2014, Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report compiled and done globally by The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF that focused on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene indicators. It highlighted that2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to proper sanitation, including toilets or latrines. The hygiene and sanitation situation in Kenya is a major concern specifically to the health sector. Lack of such facilities leads to cases of severe human health condition, dignity and security, that affects the environment, social and economic development especially in third world countries.
“The constitution of Kenya revised edition 2010, made provision of water, sanitation and hygiene as a basic human right. This compels the Government and other stakeholders to work together to ensure safe water supply, access to improved sanitation and proper hygiene are provided to all kenyan citizens.”says Mr. Thunde.
A study by the World Bank on economic impacts of poor sanitation in Africa, 2014, revealed that the Kenyan government spends more than Ksh 27 billion annually which is equivalent to US$324 million in addressing sanitation.This sum is equivalent of Kshs 800 (US$8) per person in Kenya per year or 0.9% of the national Growth Domestic Product (GDP). Such an amount lost in tackling poor sanitation would have impacted positively in terms of providing accessible health care to the community affected due to lack of proper sanitation facilities.
“Communities, the national and county government need to be empowered to facilitate sustainable Water Sanitation and Hygiene interventions and services.” says Mr. Thunde.
Open defecation costs the government of Kenya 88,00000 (US$88 million) per year in terms of latrine access time, premature death of children under five due to diseases caused by poor sanitation, productivity losses due to a majority of sick people and lack of healthcare. While eliminating the open defecation practice would require less than 1.2 million latrines to be built and used in the community. Currently, 21 million Kenyans use unsanitary or shared latrines and 5.6 million people in the country have no access to latrine and defecate in the open this is according to a 2012 report released by World Bank, that notedthe poorest quintile of the population are more likely to practice open defection 270 times than the richest.
Mr. Dickens Thunde adds that increased access to improved sanitation for poor, vulnerable communities and children and improved hygiene knowledge and behaviour change practices will transform the communities especially the most vulnerable children in order to improve their well-being”.
As a member of the technical working group, World Vision Kenya is working in partnership with the sanitation promotion technical working group at the national level and the Ministry of Health. The role of the group is to advocate for improved sanitation for all Kenyans through advocacy, fundraising and policy and strategy development.
The United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, on behalf of the Secretary‐General, launched a campaign earlier this year, to break the silence on open defecation and spur dialogue as part of the UN Call to Action on Sanitation. The initiative builds on the strong commitment already made by United Nation Member States. The “Sanitation for All’Resolution (A/RES/67/291) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in July 2013. Designating 19th November as World Toilet Day. The Day is coordinated by UN-Water in collaboration with Governments and relevant stakeholders.
About World Vision Kenya
World Vision Kenya is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. For 40 years, World Vision initiatives in Kenya have helped strengthen the well-being of children in 57 Area Development Programmes spread across 35 of the 47 counties, nationwide.
Our Focus Areas
Our community development approach focuses on health, HIV and AIDS, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, food security and economic development. Through our advocacy work, we enable the voices of the children and their communities to reach decision-makers who have the power to change unjust policies and practices. We work alongside the central government, county governments and other humanitarian agencies to provide life-saving assistance for communities affected by disaster.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a key priority development sector in World Vision Kenya. The sector aims at contributing to increased protection, participation and well-being of 2.6 million most vulnerable children through direct programming and 14 million through policy influence by 2020
WASH is currently being implemented in 35 out of 47 counties in Kenya. The WASH programme encompasses safe water, improved sanitation, proper hygiene, communities and local government empowerment and partnerships.
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