The health impact of dirty toilets cannot be underestimated

Toilets are basic facilities that must be present in every household and public place. In addition to being available in sufficient quantities, toilets must also be quite clean, comfortable, and suitable for use. This is because dirty toilets can have an impact in the form of spreading various diseases.

Unfortunately, there are still many Indonesians who have not been able to enjoy this facility. What are the conditions of toilets in Indonesia and what are the consequences of unsuitable toilets? Check out the following information for the full review.

Overview of the quality of toilets in Indonesia

Indonesia plans to achieve the target of free poor sanitation by 2019. However, this target seems still far from being a fire considering that many Indonesians do not yet have access to clean toilets.

Referring to data collected in the 2018 Indonesian Health Profile, only 69.27% ​​of households have access to proper sanitation.

This figure has indeed increased compared to 2017, which was around 67.89%. However, this figure has not met the Ministry of Health's Strategic Plan target in 2014 of 75%.

Provinces with the highest percentage of sanitation access were Bali (91.14%) and DKI Jakarta (90.73%). Meanwhile, the lowest were Papua (33.75%) and Bengkulu (44.31%).

In other words, these two provinces are still very vulnerable to health impacts due to dirty toilets.

In public places (TTU), the availability of proper toilets in 2018 reached 61.30%. This figure has met the Ministry of Health's Strategic Plan target in the same year, namely 56%.

Provinces with the highest percentage of TTU were Central Java (83.25%) and the Bangka Belitung Islands (80.16%). Meanwhile, the provinces with the lowest percentage were North Sulawesi (18.36%) and East Java (27.84%).

Health impacts of dirty toilets

World Health Organization (WHO) reports that around 432,000 deaths occur due to diarrhea each year.

In 2018, in Indonesia there were about 10 outbreaks of diarrhea with 756 sufferers and 36 deaths.

Diarrhea is just one of the many health impacts of poor quality sanitation and toilets. Without proper toilet facilities, Indonesians are also at risk of contracting various types of infectious diseases.

Here are various other diseases that can arise as a result of using dirty toilets:

1. Typhoid fever

Typhoid fever is caused by a bacterial infection Salmonella typhi. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, feeling unwell, and a rash.

People who do not have access to clean water are more susceptible to infection, because typhoid fever is transmitted through water contaminated with patient feces.

2. Dysentery

Dysentery occurs due to bacterial infection Shigella or parasites Entamoeba histolytica in the intestines. Symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, and bloody bowel movements.

Dysentery is transmitted in the same way as typhoid fever. However, this disease can be prevented by always washing your hands with soap after using the toilet.

3. Hepatitis A

Another impact that can arise from a dirty toilet is hepatitis A. This disease occurs due to infection with the hepatitis A virus which is transmitted from contaminated food and drink.

Although it can heal on its own, hepatitis A will trigger symptoms that interfere with the patient's activities, such as nausea, vomiting, and yellowish skin.

4. Cholera

Cholera is an infection that causes a person to experience diarrhea that is pale in color like rice washing water. This disease is caused by a bacterial infection Vibrio cholerae which is transmitted through contaminated water.

Without treatment, cholera can lead to severe dehydration and death.

Indonesia still has to catch up in meeting sanitation targets. One of the ways is by providing adequate and suitable public toilet facilities.

In addition, the community also needs to play an active role by maintaining the available public toilet facilities. In this way, the Indonesian people can be free from the health impacts of dirty and unsuitable toilets.

Start by keeping the toilets in your home clean for better health.