{"id":3930,"date":"2023-11-19T18:32:03","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T18:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bolivia.waterforpeople.org\/?p=3930"},"modified":"2023-11-19T18:32:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T18:32:04","slug":"dia-mundial-del-retrete-por-una-mejor-bolivia-un-retrete-a-la-vez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bolivia.waterforpeople.org\/en\/2023\/11\/19\/dia-mundial-del-retrete-por-una-mejor-bolivia-un-retrete-a-la-vez\/","title":{"rendered":"World Toilet Day: For a better Bolivia, one toilet at a time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite living in an increasingly globalized world with great technological innovations and scientific discoveries, complete and quality access to sanitation services continues to represent a constant problem in much of the world, particularly for vulnerable groups in rural areas, and Bolivia is no exception. This reality affects populations not only at a health level, but also compromises their dignity and humanitarian well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today on World Toilet Day, let's explore how the lack of access to adequate sanitation affects these communities, and how by collaborating together we can generate the change that Bolivia needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did World Toilet Day come about?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On July 24, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly determined that World Toilet Day would be celebrated every November 19 in order to accelerate action towards sanitation in a world full of contrasts, determining a main theme for each anus. which this year was determined to "Accelerate change."<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 years after the first World Toilet Day, unfortunately its relevance remains vital. According to figures from WHO and UNICEF, there are currently 3.5 billion people still living without safe toilets, 2.2 billion do not have safe water and 419 million people still practice open defecation; causing the death of 1,000 children under five years of age every day due to the spread of disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bolivian sanitation panorama<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned previously in the Inter-American Water Day<\/a>, the Bolivian groups most vulnerable to the risks posed by a poor sanitation system are children located in rural areas of the country, where access to drinking water is only available in 67.5% of the population, a situation that worsened by September of the year ongoing with at least 290 municipalities declaring a state of emergency due to prolonged droughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, over time, Bolivia has been one of the countries with the highest rates of open defecation, and although year after year the number of people who carry out this practice has decreased, it is still considered a serious problem at the rural level. , since the 32.7% of this segment continues in this situation (UNICEF, 2020).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Being a girl without sustainable sanitation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The consequences of this crisis represent a threat to nature and everyone's health, particularly for girls in their student years, since, due to the lack of availability of water and poor sanitary infrastructure, they stop attending school when they arrive. their menstrual period, altering their development and dignity in addition to exposing them to the probability of contracting an infection or disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bolivia, united in action<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This year, the insignia of this commemoration is a Hummingbird, based on an ancient legend about this bird putting out a fire by carrying water with its beak. This great analogy shows that, in addition to the actions of large organizations, the contribution as individuals can make a difference in support of our Bolivian brothers. Some of these actions may be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n