Background: Sanitation is a basic human requirement and also an important aspect of public health. Communicable diseases still continue to be the major contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Around 8.5 lakh people in low and middle income countries die as a result of inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) each year, representing 58% of total diarrheal deaths. Open defecation creates a vicious cycle of malnutrition, infection and poverty. ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ was launched on 2nd Oct 2014 with an aim to ensure access to sanitation facilities (including toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal systems and village cleanliness) and safe and adequate drinking water supply to every person thus achieving universal sanitation coverage by 2019.
Conclusion: Three years have gone so far since the mission was launched. 4.5 crore new toilets have been constructed in race of achieving the targets, however, numbers are about toilets built, not about toilets being used. It has been seen that despite having toilet facility, all people are not using them. Sanitation and hygiene practices should be incorporated from childhood itself as this is the habit forming age for everyone. Health education also plays a vital role in it. People should be made aware of the risks and hazards of poor sanitation through health education so that they become more acceptable towards it and will also incorporate it in their habits and further promote it in their community.
