Toilets for the elderly and disabled

Below are stories of two women that have struggled in regards to access to public toilets, due to their physical impairment. This article on CNN highlighted to me that when we focus on gender in relation to water and sanitation, there tends to be more awareness on the negative impacts on young women and children, however there is less discourse on the struggles other marginalised women face, such as the elderly and the disabled.

For World Toilet Day last week, CNN published 7 stories of African women that speak out about their personal experiences with toilet access. I decided to choose 2 stories from a Ghanaian elderly woman and a disabled woman from Zambia.

Zenabou (83)- Lived in Kumasi without a toilet for 50 years. As she has gotten older she struggled with the distance of getting to public toilets, especially as they were not user-friendly for the elderly and the fact they were shut at 10pm. Zenabou has finally been able to get a toilet in her house, making it safe and easier for her to now use the toilet.

Susan (46)- She was attacked with Polio at the age of 2, and going to the toilet has always been challenging, especially during the rainy season, as she has to crawl to the toilets on her hands.

I found all these stories so touching and illustrates that even though progress is being made and there is more awareness towards how much a toilet affects people's lives, there is still a long way to go. 

2.3 billion people still do not have access to a safe, private toilet (Water Aid, 2015)

Click here for the full article: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/19/africa/gallery/world-toilet-day-stories-from-women-in-africa-gallery/