November 19 is a day of utmost importance, as World Toilet Day is celebrated. This date gives us the opportunity to remember the fundamental importance of ensuring adequate sanitation services around the world. Today, we will explain how decent sanitation impacts the reality of Peru.
Adequate sanitation in Peru: a challenge and an opportunity
In Peru, the availability of basic drinking water and sanitation services has proven to be essential to reduce water-borne diseases and raise the living conditions of the population. However, there are still notable differences in the coverage and quality of these services, especially between urban and rural areas. This poses the challenge of significantly increasing efforts directed toward rural areas in the coming years.
The UN reminds us that safe toilets are essential to improve quality of life and social well-being. They not only provide comfort but also prevent the spread of deadly diseases transmitted through human feces.
The sanitation gap in Peru: Impact on health and economy
Surprisingly, almost half of the world's population lacks safely managed sanitation systems. Although in the last two decades there have been improvements in access to basic services in Peru, almost 60% of Peruvian households still lack one or more essential services such as drinking water, sanitation, electricity and internet.
Furthermore, an estimated 57% of urban residents lack access to toilets that provide full sanitation, 16% lack access to basic sanitation services, and almost 100 million practice open defecation.
Investing in sanitation not only saves lives, it also saves money. It is estimated that for every dollar invested in a good sanitation system, $5 is saved in medical costs and productivity increases.
World Toilet Day: Breaking taboos and encouraging action
World Sanitation Day, which has been commemorated since 2013, has a clear objective: to break the taboos surrounding sanitation and make it a global development priority. This date seeks to inspire people to take action to improve sanitation systems. In the context of Peru and other countries, we face the challenge of guaranteeing access to adequate sanitation services for all its citizens.
On World Toilet Day, we celebrate the efforts of organizations such as Water For People and others who work tirelessly to improve sanitation in Peru. Access to safe toilets is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right. Improving sanitation in Peru, and around the world, is not only a matter of public health, but also an investment in the well-being and prosperity of society. By working together, we can move towards a future where everyone has access to adequate sanitation services and enjoys a better quality of life.
Our actions seek to improve the conditions of access to water and sanitation services through safe and sustainable interventions. Today, in collaboration with Kimberly Clark and Discovery Channel, we can present these actions in the documentary "A Step Towards Dignity", which you can view by clicking here.