What is the first impression we have when we enter a bathroom somewhere, and it is in deplorable hygienic conditions?
Beyond transmitting a bad image, evidencing a state of neglect and dirt, its lack of cleanliness has repercussions both on daily coexistence, as it is a common space, and on the health of children and adults.
That is why it is worrying that those who have sanitary facilities do not give them adequate maintenance, and even more so if one considers that the General Assembly of the United Nations, in 2010, recognized access to drinking water and sanitation services as a right. human.
And it is that in a dirty bathroom, in addition to observing stains and perceiving bad smells, if it were analyzed in detail, much more worrying things could surely be found.
Bacteria present in the dirty bathroom
Bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which contains endotoxins and generates inflammation in the respiratory tract [2] or streptococcus, which lodges in the throat and causes inflammatory diseases, can be found in unhygienic bathrooms.
This is just a sample of the harmful microorganisms that are found in the bathrooms of our homes, and that are responsible for conditions that have an impact on health.
An example of this is the 432,000 deaths in the world due to diarrhoea, per year, due to diseases caused by inadequate hygiene in health facilities, a situation that results in loss of productivity due to the discomfort it causes and can reach, the equivalent, at 5% of GDP
This situation also affects the child population, especially since diarrhea is the second cause of death in children up to five years of age, a fact that shows their vulnerability to the lack of hygiene in bathrooms.
At Harpic® we believe that health and hygiene are essential to promote equal opportunities during childhood and adolescence.
It is exceptionally shocking to see how many people around the world continue to live without access to basic sanitation services and the worrying effect this has on their health, safety and education. We are passionate about our “Beyond Clean, Dignified Bathrooms” program and the positive contribution that we at Harpic® can make.
When children use dirty toilets in schools — at home or anywhere else — the almost immediate effect is their absence from the classroom due to diseases contracted there.
In the case of girls who present their period, they are forced to miss school at least one day because the toilets are inadequate for them during these days of the month.
It has been shown that all minors, worldwide, lose 443 million days of school due to diseases related to the lack of drinking water and hygienic-sanitary conditions
At home, the challenge is also important, therefore, adequate personal hygiene routines and correct cleaning practices in bathrooms must be developed. The most basic thing is its maintenance.
Cleaning on this site must be carried out with latex gloves, disinfectant, cleaning products and cloths. Let’s not forget a bucket to carry water, a metal sponge or a hard bristle brush.
It is advisable to remove all the things that are in the toilet (cans, laundry basket, stools, soap dishes, etc.), then wash and remove dust from all surfaces and, finally, clean the floor.
Let us remember that a clean sanitary installation reflects self-care, comfort, harmony and benefits the health of its users.
WHO. (2022). Sanitation. Retrieved May 11, 2022, from https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sanitation
National Autonomous University of Mexico. (2002). Throw it in the toilet!, A look at science, Retrieved May 11, 2022, from http://www.unamiradaalaciencia.unam.mx/stc_metro/lista_anteriores_detalle.cfm?vNoCartel=40
National Autonomous University of Mexico (2002). Throw it in the toilet!, A look at science, Retrieved May 11, 2022, from http://www.unamiradaalaciencia.unam.mx/stc_metro/lista_anteriores_detalle.cfm?vNoCartel=40
UN. (2019). Having a bathroom is essential to get out of poverty. Retrieved May 11, 2022, from: https://www.un.org/development/desa/es/news/sustainable/world-toilet-day2019.html
International Scheme. (2016). The lack of toilets causes the death of thousands of children a year, Retrieved May 11, 2022, from: https://plan-international.es/noticias/2016-11-17-la-falta-de-sanitarios-provoca -the-death-of-thousands-of-children-a-year.
