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.

DengiAll, India's first indigenous dengue vaccination, has completed its Phase-III human trials across 19 locations in India and is now waiting for final approval before being distributed across the country.

The vaccine, which has been in development since 2008 and is set to hit shelves in 2027, is a single dose medication that protects patients from all four variants of dengue fever.

Made by Panacea Biotec with technology from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the vaccine aims to provide long-term immunity and reduce the significant public health burden of dengue fever in India and globally.

Dr Syed Khalid Ali, Chief Scientific Officer at Panacea Biotec told The Print, "Dengue has puzzled scientists and immunologists for decades now. People infected with it can show anything from mild flu-like symptoms to even death. A lot of it has to do with the serotypes of dengue, and how they interact with each other.

"DengiAll has been in the making for over 15 years, and it comes at a time when half the world’s population is at risk of dengue. There’s no question about need. We needed such a vaccine yesterday.”

How Does It Work?

DengiAll works by using live, weakened versions of all four dengue virus types (DEN1, DEN2, DEN3 and DEN4) in a single shot to train the immune system to recognize and fight all variants of the virus and and protect the body from future natural infections.

The vaccine is also a tetravalent vaccine meaning that it is designed to provide balanced immunity against all four variants and overcome the challenge of each of the different types, making it a crucial feature as getting a second dengue infection with a different serotype can be more severe and deadly.

Dr Ali explains, "The catch is, if you get infected with one serotype, you’re only protected from that one type. You can very likely get infected with dengue again, with another serotype. In fact, the second infection is more likely to be severe, even life-threatening."

Why Is This Vaccine Necessary?

Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, dengue presents with high fever, headache, joint pain and rash, and while often severe forms can be fatal. Over the years,

the mosquito-borne disease has become a major public health concern in India, ranking among the top 30 countries with the highest incidence of the disease.

States such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra often report high case numbers annually after monsoons due to climate change, urbanization, and multiple virus strains. According to Global HealthCare Academy, around 1.5 to 2 lakh people fall sick from it every year.

The global incidence of dengue has been steadily increasing over the past two decades, with more than 129 countries reporting dengue viral disease by the end of 2023, according to the World Health Organization.

Apart from DengiAll, Butantan-DV is the only other single-dose, live-attenuated dengue vaccine approved in Brazil for ages 12-59 and is expected to rollout in 2026.

AIIMS New Delhi launched free cervical cancer screening through January as a public interest drive. In India, in every 8 minutes, 1 woman loses her life to cervical cancer, however, doctors say that it is highly preventable. Thus, as part of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Preventative Oncology at the Institute of Rotary Cancer Hospital and the National Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the College of Nursing, is offering the WHO-recommended HPV testing, follow-up care, and vaccination.

Who Can Undergo These Screening?

• Women who are of the age 30 to 65 years can undergo cervical and breast cancer screening from Monday to Friday between 9am to 3pm.

• HPV vaccination is available for girls aged 9 to 14 years on Saturday between 9am to 12 noon at the New RAK Building, AIIMS.

• Community screening drives are also conducted across NCI Jhajjar through January 2026.

Dr Pallavi Shukla, Associate Professor of Preventative Oncology, AIIMS, who is coordinating the programme said, "This is one cancer which is absolutely preventable. Women should not neglect their health at any age, we must make earnest efforts to eliminate cervical cancer from India."

Also Read: Every Two Minutes, One Woman Loses Her Life To Cervical Cancer: UN

What Is Cervical cancer?

Cervical Cancer is a type of cancer that develops in layers of the cervix. It is caused by abnormal cell growth that can spread to another part of your body. There are two main types of cervical cancer. These are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Cervix is located in the pelvic cavity, about 3 to 6 inches inside the vaginal canal. It serves as the entrance to the uterus to the vagina. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), almost all cervial cancer are linked to human papillomaviruses (HPV) which are transmitted through sexual contact.

What Are The Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer has no symptoms in the early days and therefore, is hard to detect until it has spread.

Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Symptoms

• Vaginal bleeding after sex
• Vaginal bleeding post-menopause
• Vaginal bleeding between periods or unusually heavy/long periods
• Watery vaginal discharge with a strong odour or containing blood
• Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse
• Advanced Cervical Cancer Symptoms (when cancer has spread beyond the cervix):

Persistent symptoms of early-stage cervical cancer

• Painful or difficult bowel movements or rectal bleeding
• Painful or difficult urination or blood in the urine
• Persistent dull backache
• Swelling of the legs
• Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen

How Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?

Cervical cancer is largely preventable and, when detected early, highly treatable. The World Health Organization recommends HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14, before they become sexually active, along with regular cervical screening from age 30, or 25 for women living with HIV.

Despite this, unequal access to vaccination, screening and treatment continues to drive higher rates of illness and deaths in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia.

Pilot project to provide menstrual cups to school and college students in selected districts of Karnataka has been successfully implemented and now the Department of Health and Family Welfare has decided to expand the scheme across the state. The Government order noted a revised administrative approval which granted to provide 10,38,912 menstrual cups at a cost of more than Rs 61 crores through Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

This decision is said to cut government expenditure on sanitary napkins by Rs 10 crores. The government spend Rs 71 crores to purchase 2,35,74,084 sanitary napkins annually to provide to beneficiaries of the Shuchi scheme. The revised order states that the department will continue distributing sanitary napkins for the next three months, after which students will be provided one menstrual cup for the following academic year.

What Are Menstrual Cups?

Menstrual cups are a small, reusable intimate product used to collect period blood. It is not only good for maintaining menstrual hygiene but is also good for the environment.

How To Insert A Menstrual Cup Correctly?

Learning to use a menstrual cup properly might take some time and practice. If you have questions about which cup to choose or how to use it, your gynecologist can provide guidance. It's common to have some difficulty during the first few uses, but most people become comfortable by their third menstrual cycle. Here is how you insert it for use:

• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before handling the menstrual cup.
• There are various ways to fold the cup for insertion, such as the C-fold, 7-fold, or punch-down fold. Experiment to find which one works best for you.
• Find a comfortable position, such as squatting or sitting on the toilet.
• Gently insert the folded cup into your vagina, aiming it towards your tailbone.
• The cup should sit just below your cervix and feel comfortable. It should sit lower than a tampon.
• Once inserted, the cup should open and create a slight suction against the vaginal walls. You can gently rotate the cup or run a finger around the base to ensure its fully open.
• If your experience any pain or discomfort, it’s important to consult with a health care professional or your gynecologist.

Dangers Of A Poorly Fitted Menstrual Cup

The problem arose because the menstrual cup wasn't sitting where it is supposed to be. The cup was pressing on the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder, essentially blocking the flow. This blockage led to pain and other symptoms for the woman. While this is a very rare occurrence, it emphasizes the importance of understanding how the cup interacts with your body.

Lancet health explains that a poorly fitted menstrual cup can cause issues like leakage from improper fit or fullness, pain or minor injuries from insertion, rare allergic reactions, and possible urinary problems due to urethral irritation or blockage. Though infrequent, IUD dislodgement has been reported, but it's difficult to definitively link it to cup use. Infections, including the very rare toxic shock syndrome (TSS), are possible if cups aren't properly cleaned, but studies suggest they may be less risky than tampons or pads. Overall, while complications are possible, they are generally infrequent.

The size of the cup, how it's placed, how long it's used, and each person's unique body shape all play a role. Even though this kind of complication is unlikely with regular use, it's a good reminder to pay attention to how you use menstrual cups and to be aware of potential issues.

The size of the cup, how it's placed, how long it's used, and each person's unique body shape all play a role. Even though this kind of complication is unlikely with regular use, it's a good reminder to pay attention to how you use menstrual cups and to be aware of potential issues.