"No Toilet, No Bride" Campaign in India is Good News For Health

by Mike Smith · 2009-10-19 13:13:00 UTC
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With more TV sets in India than toilets, toilets are increasingly providing a condition of marriage in India. With the gender imbalance putting women in the minority they've got more power to bargain in prenupital arrangements and they're using this leverage to their advantage. Following a "No Toilet, No Bride" campaign, 1.4 million toilets have been built in one of India's northern states by men eager to please potential wives. Soap operas have been pushing the message to the people, and this development is good news for public health.

Defecating in the open is a big cause of diseases, including diarrhea and polio. Each year over 1.5 million children die from diarrhea related diseases in Africa and south Asia. Along with better sanitation the World Health Organization explain urgent action that needs to be taken to reduce that number including improving water supply, vaccination, and promoting handwashing. Child deaths from diarrhea outnumber those from Aids, malaria and measles combined.

Photo credit: r000pert

Mike Smith
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