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.

The makers of blockbuster weight-loss drugs Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are locked in a legal battle after Novo accused its rival of misleading advertising by claiming its obesity and diabetes medicines outperform Novo's treatments.

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against Eli Lilly in the US District Court in New Jersey, alleging the company violated federal and state false advertising and unfair competition laws, including the Lanham Act, through nationwide advertising campaigns for its obesity drug Zepbound and diabetes treatment Mounjaro, media reports said.

Novo Alleges Ads Used Outdated Comparisons

Novo claims Lilly's advertisements:

• Compared the highest approved doses of Zepbound and Mounjaro with lower doses of Novo's Wegovy and Ozempic.
• Omitted data on the newer 7.2 mg dose of Wegovy, which, as per Novo, delivers greater weight loss.
• Relied on older clinical trial data that no longer reflects current approved dosing.

"The ads are maliciously and deceptively false because Lilly knowingly cites outdated clinical trials that compare the highest doses of the Lilly medicines to lower doses of Novo Nordisk's medicines," Novo said in its complaint.

Also read: Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 Drug Wegovy Approved for Fatty Liver Disease in India

What Did Eli Lilly Say

Eli Lilly rejected the allegations, saying its advertisements accurately reflect findings from its SURMOUNT-5 clinical trial.

According to the company:

• The study, completed in 2024, compared 10 mg and 15 mg doses of Zepbound with 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg doses of Wegovy.
• Novo's 7.2 mg Wegovy received US FDA approval only in March 2026, after the trial had concluded.

"Rather than compete on the merits of its products, Novo is asking a court to stop Lilly from communicating the results of that trial," an Eli Lilly spokesperson said. "We will continue to focus on the science and defend against this lawsuit vigorously."

Battle For Expanding Obesity Market

The lawsuit comes as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly compete for dominance in the rapidly expanding US obesity drug market, which analysts expect to exceed $100 billion by 2030.

Both companies dominate the GLP-1 medicine market:

• Novo Nordisk's medicines contain semaglutide.
• Eli Lilly's medicines contain tirzepatide.

These medicines:

• Mimic the GLP-1 hormone.
• Slow digestion.
• Help regulate blood sugar.
• Suppress appetite.

Beyond weight loss, studies have shown that GLP-1 medicines can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, and may also lower the risk of several cancers.

WHO Guidance on GLP-1 Therapies

In December 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued its first guideline on the use of GLP-1 therapies for obesity, describing the condition as a chronic, relapsing disease affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide. It recommends:

• GLP-1 therapies may be used for long-term obesity treatment in adults, excluding pregnant women.
• Treatment should be combined with structured lifestyle interventions, including a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and behavioral support to improve outcomes.

Will Patients Be Affected?

For now, patients are unlikely to be affected. The lawsuit does not challenge the safety, effectiveness, or FDA approval of the medicines. Instead, it focuses solely on how Eli Lilly marketed its products.

Patients prescribed the medicines Wegovy and Ozempic (Novo Nordisk) or Zepbound and Mounjaro (Eli Lilly) can continue taking them as directed.

Any outcome of the case is more likely to influence how pharmaceutical companies advertise and compare their medicines than the availability of these treatments.

France has passed landmark legislation banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, becoming the first country in the European Union to adopt the policy.

The move comes amid growing global concern over the impact of social media on young people's mental health, online safety, and overall well-being.

The law, approved by both houses of the French Parliament on July 21, is expected to come into force on September 1, 2026, before the start of the new school year.

The move arrives after months of debate over increasing rates of cyberbullying, excessive screen time, exposure to harmful online content, and the effects of social media on children's mental health.

France Bans Social Media For Children Under 15

Children younger than 15 will no longer be allowed to create or maintain accounts on social media platforms.

Tech companies operating these platforms will be required to implement watertight age-verification systems as well as remove existing accounts belonging to underage users.

French President Emmanuel Macron who has repeatedly voiced concerns about the effects of excessive screen time and social media on children and adolescents, described the legislation as "a major step towards protecting our children" and said the aim is to help young people grow into "responsible citizens" in an increasingly digital world.

The legislation is aimed at reducing risks associated with:

• Anxiety and depression
• Cyberbullying
• Self-harm and suicide-related content
• Sleep disruption
• Exposure to inappropriate or harmful material
• Social media addiction

Also read: Rain = No Playground; How Reduced Outdoor Activity During Monsoon Affects Children's Immunity, Weight & Mental Health

Although the law has received political support, experts say implementation may prove challenging. Technology companies have long argued that verifying users' ages at a large scale is technically complex and raises concerns over data protection.

The legislation may also face legal scrutiny regarding compatibility with European Union digital regulations and constitutional protections before full implementation.

France is not the first nation to tighten restrictions on children's social media use. Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban for children under 16 on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

Several European nations, including Greece, Germany, Denmark and Spain, are considering similar measures.

Can A Social Media Ban Positively Impact Children's Mental Health?

HealthandMe spoke to Dr. Nivedha P, MD Psychiatry, Athulya Geriatric Care Hospital, about the impact social media has on young, developing brains and if a ban can truly improve their mental health.

She says, "As a psychiatrist, I understand why countries are becoming concerned. Today, children are growing up in a digital world, and social media has become a part of their everyday life. But at the same time, we’re seeing more anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems, cyberbullying, and even symptoms of depression among young people. So, the concern is definitely real.

Talking about if a social media ban for pre-pubescents and teenagers could help, she says that a ban alone is not enough to regulate screen time among children.

Also read: Babies Without Vitamin K Shot At Higher Risk Of Brain Bleeding: Study

She explains, "It may help to some extent because it reduces early exposure during a very sensitive stage of brain development. But I don’t think a ban alone is the answer."

The expert says that technology isn’t going anywhere. The goal shouldn’t be to make children afraid of technology, but to help them become emotionally mature enough to use it wisely. The best approach, according to her, is a combination of sensible regulations, parental guidance, digital literacy, and creating safe online spaces.

She adds, "If a child doesn’t learn how to use technology in a healthy way, they’ll eventually face the same challenges when they gain access later. So, instead of only saying ‘don’t use social media,’ we should also teach children how to use it responsibly."

The Quality Of Offline Life Matters

According to the expert, parents also have a huge role in ensuring children do not get addicted to social media. Many children don’t need more screen time, they need more conversations, more play, more family time, and adults who model healthy digital habits.

Dr. Nivedha says, "We often focus on what children are doing online, but we should also ask what kind of offline life we’re creating for them."

At the end of the day, protecting children’s mental health is not just the responsibility of governments. It’s a shared responsibility between parents, schools, healthcare professionals, technology companies and society as a whole.

She adds, "A ban may buy us some time, but what truly protects a child’s mental health is teaching them emotional resilience, healthy relationships and responsible digital habits."

Paul Alexander woke up inside a 600-pound giant metal tube and never left until he died. Paul depended on an iron lung for every breath, a machine that had largely disappeared from modern medicine.

Known as "the man in the iron lung," Alexander spent more than seven decades living inside the metal cylinder after contracting polio as a child. Paul became a symbol of resilience, determination, and the life-saving power of vaccines. His remarkable story is recalled even after his death in March 2024 at the age of 78.

Who Was Paul Alexander?

The doctors placed him inside an iron lung, a mechanical ventilator that kept him alive by helping his lungs expand and contract.

Although everyone initially believed he might not survive, Alexander defied expectations. He went on to graduate from college, earn a law degree, become a practicing attorney, publish a memoir, and inspire millions through interviews and social media.

Also read: Who Was Martha Lillard? Last U.S. Polio Survivor To Depend On An Iron Lung Who Breathed Her Last At 78

Life Beyond The Iron Lung

Paul Alexander refused to let the machine define him. Doctors taught him a technique called "frog breathing" or glossopharyngeal breathing. By using the muscles of his mouth and throat, he learned to gulp air into his lungs in small amounts.

This helped him to leave the iron lung for short durations, attend school, pursue higher education, and eventually work as a lawyer. Still, he depended on the iron lung for most of his life, especially while sleeping.

Despite his conditions, Alexander earned a bachelor's degree, graduated from law school, practiced as a lawyer in Texas, and wrote his memoir - Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung.

His determination challenged and defied assumptions about disability and demonstrated that severe physical limitations need not prevent education, work, or meaningful relationships.

Also read: Even Light Exercise Could Help People With COPD Live Longer, Study Finds

Iron Lung Is An Obsolete Technology In Medicine

An iron lung, also called a negative-pressure ventilator, is a large cylindrical machine that helps people breathe when the muscles controlling respiration become paralyzed.

Unlike today's ventilators, which push air directly into the lungs through a tube or mask using positive pressure, an iron lung works by changing air pressure around the patient's body. The patient lies inside an airtight metal chamber with only the head remaining outside.

The machine then repeatedly lowers the air pressure inside the chamber. This causes the chest to expand naturally, drawing air into the lungs. The pressure then returns to normal. The chest relaxes, allowing air to flow back out. This cycle mimics normal breathing and can continue around the clock.

Iron lungs became obsolete eventually after polio vaccines and modern ventilators were developed.

The introduction of effective polio vaccines in the 1950s and 1960s dramatically reduced cases of paralytic polio worldwide.

The positive-pressure ventilators we use today are smaller, more portable, and better suited to intensive care. They deliver oxygen directly into the lungs, replacing bulky iron lungs.

Paul Alexander's life is more than a remarkable survival story. It serves as a reminder of the devastating impact infectious diseases once had before vaccines transformed public health.