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.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan'.

It is a nationwide 100-week campaign aimed at discouraging young people from substance abuse through community participation, awareness activities and various other initiatives.

About Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan

Launched via video conferencing, the campaign seeks to transform young Indians into ambassadors of a drug-free society. The campaign has weekly events scheduled every Sunday across the country.

More than 10,000 locations joined the launch virtually, bringing together MY Bharat volunteers, National Service Scheme (NSS) members, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, industry associations and over 125 spiritual organisations.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi said that a healthy and drug-free youth population is essential for building a developed India (Viksit Bharat).

The Prime Minister said, "A drug-free youth is the greatest strength of Viksit Bharat. This campaign should reach every village, every town and every city through Jan Bhagidari."

He also said that substance abuse not only destroys individual lives and families but can also become a tool used by hostile enemy forces to weaken the country's future.

He also said, "Drugs destroy families, careers and the future of young people. Parents, teachers and society must come together to protect our youth from this menace." A healthy youth is the greatest strength of a Viksit Bharat. If our young generation stays fit physically and mentally, no force can stop India's progress."

Also read: Healthcare In India No Longer A Privilege, Becoming A Right: PM Modi

What Will Happen Over The Next 100 Weeks?

Unlike one-day awareness campaigns, the initiative is designed as a long-term public movement. Every Sunday, communities across India will organise activities such as:

• Walkathons and cycling events
• Sports competitions
• Meditation and yoga sessions
• Nukkad nataks and cultural programmes
• Art and poster competitions
• Community discussions and awareness drives

The government hopes the sustained weekly engagement will encourage behavioural change, especially among adolescents and young adults, while strengthening grassroots participation.

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A Broad Anti-Drug Strategy

The campaign builds on a series of youth-focused initiatives launched this year under the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat' umbrella, including the National Nasha Mukti Quiz, awareness programmes in educational institutions, the Nasha Mukti Anthem initiative and youth conclaves across the country.

These efforts are part of the broader Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which has been expanded nationwide to curb drug problem through prevention, awareness and community engagement.

Officials say the latest campaign aims to create a society-level movement by bringing together educational institutions, youth organisations, society groups, corporate bodies and spiritual organisations on a common platform.

With one crore youth also taking the Nasha Mukti pledge during the launch, the government hopes the campaign will evolve into one of India's largest community-led efforts to prevent substance abuse.

Millionaire longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has launched a new $2.6 million women's health research project focused on his partner, Kate Tolo's menstrual blood.

Known for his unconventional longevity experiments, Johnson is now aiming to better understand women's reproductive health by preserving and studying Kate's menstrual blood.

“Kate’s period blood is in my -80 °C freezer. Around 10 mL,” he shared in a post on social media platform X.

He added that “menstrual blood is valuable and underutilized,” as it contains “endometrial cells, immune cells and stem cells.”

Why Is Bryan Johnson Studying Menstrual Blood?

Calling both himself and Kate "science experiments," Johnson said the 100-day project aims to:

• Look for diseased tissue
• Measure microplastics
• Measure endocrine disruptors
• Measure PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)

“It’s a non-invasive look into the uterus. This is great because you get the data without surgical biopsy, it can be repeated every single cycle, and it measures the uterine environment directly instead of inferring it from a standard blood draw,” Bryan said.

Also read: Bryan Johnson Plans To Create 'Bryan In A Dish' Living Lab To Test Experimental Autoimmune Treatments

Inside the $2.6 Million 100-Day Project

The project requires Kate to follow an intensive 24/7 routine designed to create what the couple says will be the most detailed dataset ever collected on the female menstrual cycle.

Her minute-by-minute schedule includes more than 100 daily tasks, 50 monitoring devices, and an experimental "techno tampon," generating an estimated 14 million data points under the supervision of a 12-person medical team.

"I am going to be the world's most measured women in this process," Kate shared in in a video posted on Instagram.

The project, backed by the couple's company Immortals, costs an estimated $2.6 million a year.

Kate will collect approximately 14 million data points on her menstrual cycle.

Read More: Bryan Johnson Blames Sugary Cereals, Soda and Stress for His Autoimmune Disease; Shares Treatment Plan

Kate Tolo's Health Conditions

Kate has previously revealed that she has endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and adenomyosis—painful gynecological conditions that she hopes this ambitious research project will help better understand and eventually treat.

“I’m measuring 1,900 biomarkers over the next 100 days to better understand female biology,” she said.

“This will be the most quantified menstrual cycle ever. And this is just to collect baseline measurements. Once we’re done with the 100 days, we’ll start trying interventions. We’ll post all results, including the good, bad and ugly, in addition to sharing all the practical insights,” Bryan added on X.

Earlier, Bryan claimed his team diagnosed Kate's endometriosis “in 42 days… which is 57x faster than average.” The condition affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally and takes an average of 10 years to diagnose.

According to Bryan, his team diagnosed her “without surgery. Via ultrasound, blood test, and MRI.”

Bryan Johnson's Goal

Bryan, who has said he is living with the autoimmune condition autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AIG) and is undergoing treatment, believes advances in AI and biotechnology could help find treatments for both his condition and Kate's endometriosis.

“My sincere goal is to try and heal the sick. With AI and biotech, we no longer have to concede to disease. We don’t need to wait for big, billion-dollar companies to do it for us. I’ll cure my AIG, and we will cure Kate’s endo, and then make the same available to others.”

Amid as many as 45 states in the US battling Cyclospora parasite infections, the UK has now reported a sharp rise in watery diarrhea-causing infections among travelers returning from Mexico.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) clarified that cyclospora, caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, does not naturally occur in the UK and cannot spread from person to person.

The agency has advised travelers to take precautions while abroad, including maintaining good food and water hygiene to reduce their risk of infection.

According to the latest data, 67 cases were reported between April 30 and July 15, among returning travelers in

• England (30),
• Scotland (27),
• Wales (10).

The agency noted that travel information was available for 52 of the 67 cases. Of these, 48 people had traveled to Mexico, with one also reporting travel to the US. One case involved travel only to the US, while another had traveled to Kenya.

Among those who visited Mexico, cases reported staying at various hotels in the Riviera Maya and Cancún regions and consuming a range of foods and drinks as part of all-inclusive holiday packages. Investigations into the source of the infections are ongoing, the UKHSA said.

"We have recently detected a rise in Cyclospora infections among travelers returning from Mexico. These infections are caused by a parasite and can affect the stomach and intestines," said Dr. Philip Veal, Consultant in Travel Health at UKHSA.

"If you develop symptoms after returning from travel, such as watery diarrhoea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, bloating, increased wind, nausea, fatigue or other flu-like symptoms, please seek medical attention and inform your healthcare professional of your travel history," he added.

Cyclospora Outbreak In US: The Mexico Connection

Also read: Michigan Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Nears 10,000 Cases: Is Your Lettuce Safe?

The US is experiencing its largest Cyclospora outbreak, with infections reported across 45 states. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce grown by Taylor Farms in central Mexico, prompting the company to initiate a recall on July 17.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) weekly update on July 28, there have been 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases of the illness, recorded in 45 states, since May 1. In addition, more than 11,500 additional cases, primarily in Michigan and Ohio, have not yet been confirmed by laboratories, the CDC said.

There have been 423 hospitalizations and no deaths, per the agency.

Foods Travelers Should Avoid

Dr. Philip Veal advised travelers to Mexico to avoid foods that may be contaminated with Cyclospora, particularly:

• Fresh, uncooked berries
• Fresh herbs
• Unpeeled fruits
• Raw salad items
• Ice in drinks
• Smoothies and juices that may contain raw fruits or vegetables

Read More: UK, France Brace for Another Heatwave: How Hot Weather Can Affect Medicines

Further, to reduce the risk of infection, the UKHSA also recommended:

• Washing hands regularly with soap and clean water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer only when handwashing facilities are unavailable.
• Drinking bottled or boiled water where tap water is unsafe, including for brushing teeth.
• Choosing fruit that can be peeled, such as bananas and oranges.
• Opting for pasteurized dairy products.
• Eating freshly cooked food served hot.
• Following good food and water hygiene practices, even when staying at high-end all-inclusive resorts.

What Is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a parasite that infects the stomach and intestines and is typically acquired by consuming contaminated food or water.

Symptoms include:

• Frequent watery diarrhoea
• Abdominal cramps
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Excessive gas (flatulence)
• Low-grade fever
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Most cases are mild and resolve within a few days without treatment. However, the illness can be more severe or prolonged in people with weakened immune systems, who may require antibiotic treatment.