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World Toilet Day celebrations
Following the success of last year's World Toilet Day, the Government of Burkina Faso made 19 November an official day of celebration. This year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Fisheries even took the lead. The celebration started in the preceding week with a press tour. The press tour group of 30 participants included 17 journalists from print, radio and TV; representatives from various ministries as well as NGO and INGO representatives. The tour started by visiting water and sanitation projects in rural areas. The group took part in public discussions with communities in order to hear about their perspectives on hygiene and sanitation but also to identify their needs and blockages. The group also visited a few households to learn more about their true living conditions. In Ouagadougou, they visited the national hospital, the Nongremassom health district, restaurants and Marien Gouabi public school. Ouédraogo Napon Aline, WaterAid Burkina Faso's Head of Advocacy and Public Relations said of their visit: "What we saw at the national hospital and the school in the capital city was so crude and appalling that it made me personally, and surely many others, tremble all over. "With the managers, we discussed the importance of prioritising hygiene and sanitation and the risks a lack of it carries for children and sick people. They were made to understand that sanitation is not just an issue of facility but has knock on effects that lie far beyond, to do with education, behaviour and maintenance. " World Toilet Day itself, celebrated some 115 km from Ouagadougou under the theme "Toilets for all: for health, hygiene, comfort and dignity" was chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Fisheries and attended by over 500 people from different backgrounds. A community member, the mouthpiece of his people, was given the opportunity to speak after which a press tour spokesperson summed up what they saw during their visits. He also presented the End Water Poverty campaign messages and calls to donors, local and national authorities who were present. The celebrations surrounding the day were a great success. WaterAid succeeded in mobilising and sensitising many people on sanitation issues. The Government has created a new office for sanitation, which is a good indicator of its concern and commitment to prioritisation of the sector. Organisation of this year's World Toilet Day was a test for the new government office which claimed full commitment and successfully gave it! Major outcomes of this celebration comprise:
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