Sanitation and dignity rise and fall together | Jen van den Bussche | TEDxJohannesburg

Sanitation & Human Dignity - Access to proper sanitation, including toilets, is a fundamental human right, essential for maintaining dignity and health [3][4][5] - South Africa's history of inequality has resulted in unequal access to basic sanitation facilities in many communities [6] - Communities are taking charge, transforming sanitation into a space of dignity, action, and change [9] Infrastructure & Urban Planning - Toilets are a critical part of urban infrastructure, essential for healthy, livable, and functional cities [13] - High-density cities require safe and effective waste removal systems [12] - Plumbers play a vital role in maintaining the health of cities by ensuring proper sanitation [9][21] Community-Based Solutions - Community-based solutions, like those implemented by WSAP in Dipsoot, can effectively address sanitation challenges, even without consistent government support [15] - Active citizenship and community involvement are key to improving sanitation and bringing dignity to residents [21][25] - WSAP has demonstrated that cyclical maintenance reduces costs and using quality products leads to long-term savings [15] Water Conservation & Cost Savings - Regular maintenance of toilets can save significant amounts of water, with WSAP saving 4,000 liters per day per toilet [20] - In Dips extension one, WSAP saved 2 million liters of water annually through toilet maintenance [20] - Lack of access to water and sanitation costs 18 African countries $55 billion (550 亿) annually due to health costs, time loss, and productivity costs [17] Global Collaboration & Innovation - International collaborations, such as the International Community Plumbing Challenge, promote innovation and improve sanitation in communities [23] - Plumbing trade competitions, like World Skills, support trades and highlight their importance to economies and city health [22][23] - Plumbers worldwide are actively involved in projects that improve sanitation and promote healthy cities [21] Data & Quantification - In Dips extension one, there are 642 toilets for 25,000 registered residents, equating to 39 households per toilet [10] - Housing for Health, an Australian program, reduced hospital intake by 40% for environmental-related health issues by repairing household environments, including bathrooms and sanitation [17]