Dili, November 20, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The National Platform for Water, Sanitation and Health of Timor-Leste (PN-BESI-TL) together with the NGO forum of Timor-Leste organized a seminar on the celebration of World Toilet Day 2024 with the theme, “Global Toilets as a Place for Peace” and the national theme, “Dignified Toilets as a Safe Place for Families”. The activity was held at the Faculty of Social Sciences Campus in Caicoli, on Tuesday.
According to the Coordinator of PN-BESI-TL, Januario Amaral de Jesus, November 19 is World Toilet Day which is very important for developing countries.
“Today is a very important day for developing countries, where almost all countries consider it important to celebrate World Toilet Day to continue sharing information or advice for citizens including related entities to consider the toilet issue important, because as we know that at the political level there are many plans and programs that have been made by the ministry and the Ministry of Health also has a strategic plan that has been made by the government, on how to continue to strive to achieve these plans and programs. In addition, how the plan can achieve the strategic achievement program plan, everyone has a contribution. Therefore, this activity is held on this campus, the university takes a very important role in the process of how to advocate because they have a big role, social control, transformation and advocate for the community at the sub-village level, village level and also advocate for people who make decisions.” Said the Coordinator, Januario Amaral di Caicoli.
He continued, when building a decent and inclusive toilet in a healthy place is not necessarily balanced with the availability of adequate water, if there is no adequate water then it is difficult to guarantee a healthy and inclusive toilet. Continue to appeal to the community to build toilets in their respective homes, and continue to appeal to related agencies to continue to ensure the availability of adequate water for families so that the availability of water can guarantee good health.
On the other hand, according to the Vice Dean for Research, Francisco Soares said that this activity was to celebrate World Sanitation Day, because sanitation is very important for everyday life, because Timor-Leste faces major challenges, which is through cultural aspects.
“Many people sometimes have some perceptions as cultural aspects, such as some who like to litter, because toilets are important to avoid violence, because in society there has been symbolic violence, it can also be physical violence. Therefore, this activity is to help carry out transformation in community life. So that people live in peace, harmony and tranquility.” Said Fransisco Soares
He emphasized that the role of universities as transformation institutions is to disseminate information to the community on how to maintain a major role, carry out social control, carry out transformation, and create health data, because universities have an advocacy role for the community at the village levels.
In addition, according to the Executive Director of the Timor-Leste NGO Forum, Valentim da Costa Pinto said that water and sanitation as basic community needs are about how to challenge the government to continue to offer dignified conditions for the community.
“This activity is a challenge for our government to create conditions that can continue to provide decent toilets for our people to explore their resources to show good practices for their families especially in terms of sanitation. Sanitation is very important for every household to access a decent place to manage our waste, so the important factor is to ensure and provide opportunities for the situation and determination, to continue to occur so that it can guarantee directly for families.” Said the Executive Director of FONGTIL
He added that water and sanitation are contributing factors to the ongoing problem, due to limited access to water and unsafe food management as well as poor knowledge, unsustainable healthy practices, all of which contribute to the ongoing malnutrition in our country.
Reported by : Tomas
Picture by : Tomas