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.

Propranolol is a beta-blocker that is used to address certain heart conditions and physical symptoms of anxiety. It has been gaining attention on social media for calming nerves before stressful life events like job interviews, presentations and other similar situations.

However, experts warn that its surging popularity may make it difficult to pay attention to the limited evidence supporting its use for anxiety.

The medication works by blocking the effects of adrenaline on beta receptors, slowing the heart rate and reducing physical symptoms like trembling, sweating and palpitations. It does not directly treat the emotional symptoms of anxiety.

Propranolol Has Becoming Popular As A 'Quick Fix'

In England, the NHS dispensed around 8.4 million propranolol prescription items in the 12 months leading up to June 2026, a 4.7% increase from the previous year. These figures cover all uses of the drug, not just anxiety.

Significant increases in prescriptions among younger women and teenage girls over a decade was also seen. Social media has helped promote propranolol as a quick fix for nerves, but its popularity does not reflect the strength of its clinical evidence.

Also read: Seasonal Depression & Anhedonia: How Winter Can Affect Pleasure And Motivation

What Does The Evidence Say?

Dr Daniel Gordon, private GP and managing director at DGA Health told Daily Mail that propranolol may help people whose anxiety mainly causes physical symptoms.

"In my experience, the people who find propranolol helpful are usually those whose anxiety shows up mostly in the body, with palpitations, shaking and a pounding chest," Dr Gordon said.

He also said that addressing those symptoms can treat physical symptoms, helping people feel more in control. But feeling calmer in the body is not the same as treating anxiety, and for many people talking therapies, and sometimes other medicines, prove to be helpful.

Additionally, the evidence available on Propranolol is insufficient contrary to its online popularity. A systematic review of eight small randomised trials, covering around 200 people, concluded that the evidence was insufficient to support routine use of propranolol in any anxiety disorder.

Some people do report relief of physical symptoms, but propranolol us not recommended for anxiety as there are no modern, reliable clinical trials.

Dr Gordon added, "This is exactly why proper assessment matters. Propranolol should generally not be used by people with asthma, certain heart rhythm problems such as heart block, a very slow heart rate or low blood pressure, and it can mask the warning signs of low blood sugar in people with diabetes."

Also read: The Silent Struggle Of Raising A Child With Mental Health Challenges: How Parents Can Cope With Stigma

Risks Of Taking Propranolol Without Prescription

Common side effects of propranolol include dizziness, tiredness, cold hands and feet, and sleep disturbances. Because propranolol can decrease heart rate and blood pressure, it may be unsuitable for people with low blood pressure. It can also be risky for people with asthma and heart conditions.

Buying prescription medication online is not inherently unsafe, but a brief questionnaire does not necessarily mean that a person's medical history and individual risks have been adequately assessed.

Gordon stressed that a medical doctor needs to review a patient's medical history before prescribing the drug as it can interact with other medications and may be unsuitable for some patients.

Alternatives For Managing Anxiety

Propranolol may help some people manage physical symptoms in some situations, but it is not a substitute for treating clinical anxiety.

Psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help people manage anxious thoughts. Medication may also be appropriate depending on the person's symptoms.

People whose anxiety affects their work, relationships or daily activities should speak to a healthcare professional rather than taking propranolol.

Police in Guinea-Bissau raided the Bandim Health Project on Monday, October 19, and seized a batch of hepatitis B vaccines intended for a controversial trial involving 14,000 newborns, according to an official statement.

The project’s Danish researchers, Peter Aaby and Christine Stabell Benn, are at the center of the dispute. The study received $1.6 million from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), matched by the Pershing Square Foundation and the Bluebell Foundation, bringing total funding to $3.2 million. US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has praised the researchers’ work.

The police search took place on Monday, involving “investigative procedures aimed at clarifying the circumstances related to the said batch of vaccines”, according to the social media post, which was translated from Portuguese. The announcement noted that seizing the immunizations did not point to “irregularities in the quality, safety, or effectiveness of the vaccines”, The Guardian reported.

Why Is the Hepatitis B Vaccine Trial Controversial?

The proposed trial would randomly divide 14,000 newborns into two groups: one would receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, while the other would receive it six weeks later.

The WHO recommends hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

Why Is Delaying Vaccination a Concern?

Also read: Hepatitis B Infections Could Rise 83% If US Changes Newborn Vaccine Policy: Study

Hepatitis B is highly endemic in Guinea-Bissau, affecting more than 12% of adults. Infants infected at birth have about a 90% chance of developing chronic infection, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.

Stig Børsen Hansen, a member of the University of Southern Denmark’s ethics committee, resigned after the committee narrowly approved the updated protocol. He warned that the trial would expose some newborns to potentially serious infections by delaying vaccination.

What Is the Study Investigating?

Rather than testing the vaccine’s established efficacy, the study aims to investigate the proposed “non-specific effects” of vaccines — potential health effects beyond protection against targeted infections.

Critics argue that delaying a recommended birth dose to investigate these hypotheses exposes newborns to avoidable risks. Former Guinea-Bissau Health Minister Magda Robalo and other critics have also raised concerns about conducting such research in a vulnerable population.

What Have Authorities Said?

The Bandim Health Project published an approval letter from Guinea-Bissau’s national ethics committee, dated July 14. A Danish research ethics committee also approved the study earlier this month.

However, transitional government Health Minister Quinhin Nantote disputed reports that the trial would proceed, telling The Guardian: “This is not even remotely true.”

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said a study denying newborns the vaccine would be “unethical” and expose them to “serious and potentially irreversible harm.” The WHO is advising Guinea-Bissau’s Ministry of Health on introducing the vaccine and assessing the study’s potential impact.

Why Is RFK Jr. Backing the Researchers?

Anthropologist Peter Aaby founded the Bandim Health Project in 1978. It is now co-led by his wife, epidemiologist Christine Stabell Benn.

Kennedy has called the pair “the deities of vaccine research” at an anti-vaccine conference and cited their research on the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. A subsequent study by the researchers produced different results.

Kennedy also called Aaby a “very famous” researcher on Joe Rogan’s podcast in 2023 and cited his work when he halted US funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Stabell Benn served on the hepatitis B working group of the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and presented evidence before the committee voted to end the universal hepatitis B birth-dose recommendation. A federal judge subsequently stayed the decision.

With digital innovation, expanding healthcare access, and a growing focus on self-reliance driving transformation in India's healthcare sector, the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards 2026 is set to return for its third edition.

The event, to be held on October 28th, will bring together policymakers, healthcare leaders, clinicians, researchers, innovators, and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of India's healthcare ecosystem.

Centered on the theme, “The Blueprint for a Future-Ready Healthcare Ecosystem – Innovation. Access. Self-Reliance,” the summit will explore emerging healthcare innovations, collaborations, and policy approaches, culminating in an awards ceremony recognizing excellence across the sector.

As India is advancing in artificial intelligence (AI), digital health, biotechnology, medical technology (MedTech), and indigenous manufacturing, these areas will also be central to discussions on strengthening the country's healthcare ecosystem.

Summit At A Glance

Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, is expected to attend as the chief guest.

The second edition of the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards 2026 will feature:

• 30+ speakers
• 400+ delegates
• 12+ knowledge sessions

Six Key Healthcare Discussion Areas

The summit will feature six panel discussions covering key areas of healthcare innovation, access, and policy.

• Advanced Healthcare Infrastructure And Clinical Excellence: Scaling advanced care through AI, Centres of Excellence, and digital innovation.
• Fertility And Reproductive Healthcare: Exploring reproductive technologies, precision medicine, and patient access.
• India's Biopharma Growth: Advancing research, therapeutics, and resilient manufacturing.
• Precision Diagnostics: Leveraging AI, genomics, and personalized care.
• Integrative Healthcare: Strengthening scientific research and AYUSH integration.
• Healthcare Financing: Improving affordability, access, and sustainability through insurance and public-private partnerships.

The summit is being held in association with Onextel Communications Media, co-powered by Novartis and supported by HealthandMe. It will conclude with a felicitation ceremony recognizing excellence across the healthcare sector.