Global toilet sanitation problem leads to 443 million missed school days

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According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), children around the world miss an estimated 443 million school days each year because of diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, including using unsanitary toilets. Simply put, this number of sick days is equivalent to all grade school and high school classrooms in the Philippines being empty for one month. This sanitation-related concern hinders the children’s learning and significantly reduces their quality of life.

Illnesses due to poor toilet sanitation include diarrhoeal disease and parasitic worm infections which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, physical and mental stunting, and death. Every day, millions of children in rural communities and urban households nationwide are exposed to these health problems by using dirty toilets populated by disease-carrying germs.

According to Dr. Luisa Efren of the Philippine Public Health Association (PPHA), the simple act of proper toilet sanitation can help prevent the spread of these germs. However, children continue to be at risk from these deadly diseases because many households still use ordinary laundry bleach to clean their toilet bowls, which is not enough to kill all toilet germs.

“A toilet that looks clean to the naked eye may not necessarily be free from germs and bacteria. So, it is very important to properly sanitize all surfaces using a germ-kill expert with proven efficacy in eliminating bacteria, and not just any ordinary laundry bleach,” Dr. Efren warned.

For the past three years, Unilever Philippines through its germ-kill expert brand Domex, has been working with UNICEF and PPHA to champion the One Million Clean Toilets Movement. This advocacy program aims to educate Filipinos on proper toilet hygiene and the need for sanitized household toilets to keep their families safe against disease-causing germs.

On November 13, World Toilet Day, join the One Million Clean Toilets Movement in the fight against disease causing germs to save lives, one clean toilet at a time. To learn more about Domex and how you can stay safe from disease with a germ-free home, visit Domex Philippines on Facebook. 

You can also help the 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement fight against disease by spreading awareness on the sanitation issue caused unsanitary toilets. 

Watch and share the “Sick Days” video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypMNHyUwQOQ) to help keep your family and friends germ-free.

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/wsh0404.pdf

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/

https://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/the-sustainable-living-plan/improving-health-and-well-being/health-and-hygiene/toilets-of-tomorrow/

Join the Domex #WorldToiletDay2015 Promo

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Join the 1 million clean toilets movement.

Domex leads the fight against diseases caused by unsanitary toilets through the 1M CleanToilets Movement.

In celebration of World Toilet Day, Domex leads a toilet clean-up in East Avenue Medical Center, symbolizing our commitment in helping people, especially those who have been afflicted, to fight disease through clean toilets.

"To support the 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement and World Toilet Day, I pledge to properly clean my toilet, to protect my family from disease caused by unsanitary toilets."

Who do you protect from disease causing germs? Who inspires you to keep your toilet at home clean and germ-free?

Mechanics:

1.  Join the discussion on Twitter and/or Instagram Post.

2.  Enjoying Wonderful World followers will then answer the question with a photo of or with their loved ones doing a check mark hand gesture using their left hand for a chance to win Domex gift packs.

Each contestant should tag @Enjoying Wonderful World    #enjoyingwonderfulworld and use the hashtags   #WorldToiletDay2015     #1MCleanToilets

3. On November 13, we will randomly choose and announce top 10 entries from their followers to win Domex worth 2 months of cleaning.

4. Winners have up to December 15, 2015 to claim their prizes at 2F Zaragoza Bldg., 102 Gamboa St., Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 Philippines. Contact Niel Mugas +639773751

Community welcomes arrival of 'star" in “Fiesta” video

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Here's something we need and we value on our lives. Cleanliness, basic sanitation, clean toilets, germ-free communities.  Watch this as a community welcomes arrival of clean toilets in “Fiesta” video.

It’s a scene typically played out during fiestas: People rushing to the streets, drawn to the sound of a marching band. Everyone is smiling, eager to see the “star” of the celebration. But instead of showing the face of a movie celebrity, a beauty queen or a politician, the video reveals an unlikely, yet welcome sight—a new, clean toilet facility.

Aptly titled “Fiesta”, the Domex video, produced by Unilever Philippines, is available on Youtube and shows how underprivileged Filipinos welcome the “arrival” of clean toilet facilities in their communities.

“The video aims to make people realize the value of a toilet which most of us, unfortunately, take for granted,” said Dennis Chua, Domex Brand Manager.

The “Fiesta” video contributes to the efforts of Domex’s One Million Clean Toilets Movement. Each unique view translates into a pledge for the advocacy campaign which collects pledges from households to conscientiously maintain their own hygienic bathrooms. For every pledge received, Domex will donate P5 to UNICEF’s sanitation program, towards improving access to basic sanitation in deprived areas around the world, including the Philippines.

“By watching the ‘Fiesta’ video and asking our friends to watch it, we are not only raising awareness for toilet appreciation and sanitation, more importantly, we are helping less privileged communities gain access to clean toilet facilities,” said Benjie Yap, Unilever Foods and Home Care Vice President.

Clean toilets, germ-free communities

All over the country, people are welcoming the construction of new toilet facilities and the repair of dilapidated ones, since becoming aware of its role in disease prevention, especially among children.

According to the Department of Health, of the estimated 3,420 diarrhea-related deaths among Filipino children under 5 every year, around 2,000 could have been prevented by access to safe water, improved toilet sanitation and personal hygiene.

“This video should serve as a wake-up call for most of us. The little things we take for granted, like having a clean toilet, could mean the world to others and could definitely help save lives,” Chua said.

Fiesta

Having access to clean toilets means a world of a difference to others. Join the 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement and celebrate World Toilet Day with us to help make a difference.

Every view this video gets, counts as a pledge. Help communities gain access to clean toilet facilities today. Let's save lives together!