World Toilet Day is here once again to remind us the state of our sanitation and its effect on humanity. The 19th November set by the United Nations (UN) to observe the World Toilet Day aims to change both behaviour and policy on issues relating to sanitation.

Religious people mostly say; “Cleanliness is next to Godliness…” and that cannot be over emphasized. We can provide all the great things in the world for our loved ones but without good sanitation, most people will not live to enjoy its worth.

About 70% of the issues reported at medical facilities each day is caused by infectious diseases, and these are generated from bad sanitation most especially, open-air defecation which is practiced by 1.1 billion people worldwide. A greater proportion of these people die because of sanitation challenges.

This “old devil” of poor sanitation offers a huge challenge on the development of every country, like that of the promotion of the girl child education; many of our girls/ladies have their education terminated at the tender age due to the lack of proper toilet facilities in the schools to help them keep up with their menstrual periods. That kills the dream of educating the whole nations.

The time is overdue to address the challenges that come along with bad sanitation by effectively constructing a sound sewerage network system with recycling of waste that will give us more benefits, than taking away our dear people. Why don’t we pause now and give it all the attention it needs?

It will be in the interest of each of us to start talking, acting and enforcing the effects towards good sanitation through our children, friends, institutions and authorities.

Let’s draw our attention back in the days where we used to have Ghana Water and Sewerage Cooperation. What happened to the Sewerage arm of the cooperation? Does it mean, we no longer generate sewage? If we do, where does it go? Is every house rich enough to construct a septic tank which is more expensive than a chamber and hall?

Let’s seek answers to these questions. In trying our individual efforts, we will be driving towards the expected hope for good sanitation for all.

By: Joshua K. Nyamavor Royal Plumbing Engineering College ropeceducation@gmail.com