My neighbours are building a new bathroom at the front of their building. I am sure sure who the front of the building belongs to because there are many families living in the building. I suppose they must have had permission before they started the work (who knows). Anyway the bathroom is looking pretty nice and today they are due to finish it and show me… at least that’s what I think they said – my Chinese is not so good.
Where I live people still share communal bathrooms and have to queue – but at least they have a bathroom (Happily I have my own). I must admit however that some still do clean their teeth and do washing on the street outside my house.
When I first came to China I stayed in remote villages and was horrified by the toilets I had to use. Nowadays things have got better and sanitation is greatly improved. However in many countries poor sanitation is responsible for ill health and death.
Recently in India the government has been trying to increase the number of households who have indoor toilets and in some cases they ares suggesting that girls should ensure that their future husbands have an indoor toilet before agreeing to marry them.
Half of India’s population still have no indoor toilet and have to go into fields. This has caused many problems for the population but especially for girls many of whom are afraid of being raped.
The next time my drains smell a bit I shall think about others close to home and in far off lands who do not have the luxury of a toilet.