Every year, World Toilet Day is observed to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis and encourage action to solve it. The goal set by the United Nation is to achieve safe toilets for all by 2023, as a part of their Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN also states that 3.5 billion people live without proper sanitation and many children also lose their lives due to poor sanitation and unsafe water. This is why World Toilet Day is observed to raise awareness on this issue.

Theme

This year, the theme for World Toilet Day 2024 is "Toilets - A Place for Peace'. This focuses on the growing threat to sanitation that is caused by conflict, climate change, disaster and neglect. When there is a threat to using toilets, it can lead to many health risks.

Not using toilets for too long may lead to Urinary Tract Infection or UTI. For many who do not have access to clean toilets do not drink enough liquid or hold pee for too long. Doctors suggest that holding in pee for too long can cause bacteria to multiply and lead to UTI. By not drinking enough water, your bladder fails to tell the body to pee often, and can cause the bacteria to spread through the urinary tract, which can lead to infection.

Symptoms of UTI:

• Burning or stinging feeling while urinating
• Pain in pelvis or lower abdomen
• Constant urge to empty the bladder
• Strong or foul smelling urine
• Consistently dark urine
• Blood in urine

Holding in pee for too long can also cause your bladder to stretch, making it difficult or even impossible for the bladder to contract and release pee normally. It can also damage your pelvic floor muscles or could lead to kidney stones.

World Toilet Day History And Significance

To prevent such conditions, it is important that everyone has access to clean and safe toilets. In terms of history, the day was established in 2001, by the World Toilet Organization (WTO), which was founded by Jack Sim. However, it was officially recognised by the UN in 2013. The Government of Singapore worked with WTO to create the first UN resolution called Sanitation for All.

India too promotes safe and hygiene toilet through its Swachh Bharat Yojna.

Actor Michael Wright, best known for playing Eddie King Jr. in the 1991 musical drama The Five Heartbeats, has died at the age of 70 in Los Angeles. According to his kin, Wright died on August 19. His death was linked to heart failure along with complications from Marchiafava-Bignami disease, a rare degenerative neurological condition.

His wife, Susan Wright, announced his death in a social media post, “It is with profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness in my heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Michael Wright,” Susan wrote, remembering the actor as a “loved one, a friend, and an extraordinary artist whose work touched generations.”

Wright’s Died Due To Marchiafava-Bignami Disease

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According to a statement from Wright’s family, he suffered heart failure together with complications from Marchiafava-Bignami disease. MBD is a rare neurological disorder that primarily affects the corpus callosum, the thick bundle of nerve fibres connecting the brain’s two hemispheres.

It is most commonly associated with severe alcohol use disorder and nutritional deficiencies, although it can occur in other circumstances.

The condition can cause symptoms including confusion, impaired consciousness, problems with movement, seizures and changes in cognitive function. As MBD is extremely rare, doctors may have difficulty recognising it, particularly in its early stages.

Wright's cause of death was heart failure due to the neurological disease. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Depending on the type and severity, this can lead to breathlessness, fatigue, swelling in the legs, rapid heartbeat and reduced ability to perform everyday activities.

Heart failure can develop because of conditions including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks, cardiomyopathy and abnormal heart rhythms. In Wright's case, his family said heart failure occurred alongside complications from MBD. They did not publicly provide further details about what caused his heart failure.

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Wright Had A Career Spanning Nearly Five Decades

His most memorable performance came in The Five Heartbeats, where he played Eddie King Jr., the troubled lead singer of a fictional R&B group. He also appeared in television series including V and HBO's Oz.

Wright's career continued into later years, with his final credited appearances including the television series Black Lightning and the 2025 film Dope King.

Susan Wright said the family has requested privacy while grieving and said further details about his life and legacy would be shared later. She said she was experiencing “profound sadness and an unimaginable heaviness” following his death.

She remembered her husband not only for his acting career but also as a loved one, friend and artist whose work had reached generations of audiences. Wright is survived by his wife, daughter, stepchildren and other family members.

US President Donald Trump’s recent weight gain has drawn renewed attention from doctors, who say carrying excess weight can increase the risk of several serious health problems, particularly as he ages.

Trump weighed 238 pounds (108 kg) at his medical examination in May, according to a White House medical report. That was 14 pounds more than the previous year and about 23 pounds more than the 215 pounds recorded in 2023. At a height of 6 feet 3 inches, his BMI is around 29.7, just below the threshold of 30 used to classify obesity.

The concern comes as Trump, 80, has previously been advised by his physicians to improve his diet, exercise more and lose weight.

Weight Gain Becomes More Concerning With Age

Excess body weight is associated with a higher risk of conditions including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, certain cancers and osteoarthritis.

Doctors also point to visceral fat, the fat stored around internal organs, as particularly concerning because it can contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance.

Dr. Scott Kahan, the director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness, told the Post, “We know that obesity is a strong risk factor for numerous health issues — as well as premature disability and death.”

He added thar addressing obesity should be a priority for protecting the president’s health. He said, “Addressing obesity to protect the president’s health should be a priority similar to ensuring Secret Service protections for his life.”

In a podcast with Katie Miller, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that that Trump’s dietary habits were not ideal.

“The interesting thing about the president is that he eats really bad food, which is McDonald’s, and, you then know, candy and Diet Coke. He drinks Diet Coke at all times. He has the constitution of a deity. I don’t know how he’s alive, but he is,” Kennedy said.

Also read: Meet Heidi Overton: Trump Set to Nominate White House Adviser to Lead FDA

Visceral Fat Is A Bigger Concern

Although Trump's BMI is close to the obesity threshold, doctors caution that BMI is a screening tool, not a complete measure of health. For older adults, physicians also consider muscle mass, body-fat distribution, waist circumference, physical function, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Dr Gitanjali Srivastava, an obesity specialist who treats older adults, told The Post that at this age, the focus should be less on a single number and more on “what is the percent body fat?”

David Kessler, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, put focus on where the body stores fat. He pointed to visceral adiposity, describing it as fat around organs such as the liver, pancreas and heart where it can contribute to disease. It is associated with metabolic problems like insulin resistance and abnormal cholesterol levels, which can increase cardiovascular risk.

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Trump’s Weight Has Fluctuated Over The Years

He later appeared thinner during his 2023 presidential campaign, with his campaign saying he had reduced his weight through an improved diet and daily physical activity.

His most recent reported weight therefore represents a substantial increase from the 215-pound figure recorded in 2023. The White House has defended Trump's overall health, pointing to his energy, stamina and cognitive fitness. A spokesperson said he remains highly active and described him as working continuously.

Trump's physicians have advised him to make changes to his diet and increase physical activity. Former White House physician Ronny Jackson wrote in a 2022 memoir that he had advised Trump that he would be “a little healthier” if he improved his diet, exercised and lost some weight. In 2018, Jackson said a reasonable goal would be for Trump to lose 10 to 15 pounds.

Trump himself has acknowledged concerns about his weight over the years. In a recent podcast appearance, he joked about not wanting to surpass former President William Howard Taft, who weighed more than 300 pounds.

Trump joked, “He was our heaviest president, and I have to be careful because I don’t want to supersede his record."

Health officials in Alberta have urged people who received injections, aesthetic procedures or other medical services from a home-based business in Edmonton to get checked for possible exposure to HIV and hepatitis B and C.

The warning was issued on August 21 after authorities said an individual, identified as Max Klein, had allegedly been providing medical and aesthetic services from a home-based, unlicensed business.

According to reports, Klein has not held an active medical practice permit in Alberta since 2015, and his registration was cancelled in 2022.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta had previously taken action against him following a 2015 incident involving the administration of an illicit substance to a colleague without consent, according to reporting on the health alert.

Officials have asked anyone who received services from the business to contact Health Link at 811 or a healthcare provider to know if testing, monitoring or follow-up treatment is required.

People Who Received Injections May Need Blood Tests

The alert is meant for people who received a range of services, including injections, aesthetic procedures, medical treatment, and other health services from Klein. It said these individuals “may have been exposed to blood-borne pathogens, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV” and could also face risks of injury or other health complications.

People referred through Health Link will receive a Blood and Body Fluid Exposure assessment through Primary Care Alberta. Depending on the circumstances and timing of exposure, healthcare professionals can determine whether testing or post-exposure treatment is appropriate.

Alberta health authorities said that, “Procedures involving injections, needles, or skin penetration should only be performed by a qualified provider who follows appropriate infection prevention and control practices.”

The province warned that receiving such services from “unqualified or unregulated individuals” can increase the risk of infectious disease exposure, injury and other adverse health outcomes.

Also read: From Liver Inflammation to Cancer: When Hepatitis Becomes a Serious Warning Sign

Why Can Unsafe Injections Spread HIV And Hepatitis?

Injections and other procedures involving needles can carry a risk of transmitting blood-borne infections if proper infection-control practices are not followed.

Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV can all be transmitted through exposure to infected blood. The risk can arise through contaminated needles or other equipment, particularly when sterile equipment is not used correctly or instruments are reused.

The World Medical Association notes that unsafe injection practices, including unsterilised equipment and reuse of syringes, can spread hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Also read: England Set To Become One Of The First Countries To Eliminate Hepatitis C; Here's How

HIV And Hepatitis May Not Cause Immediate Symptoms

One reason why testing is important after a potential exposure is that blood-borne infections may not always cause noticeable symptoms soon after infection.

Healthcare professionals can determine which tests are appropriate based on the type of procedure, exposure, and how long ago it occurred.