A big World Toilet Day in Mali
Musicians preparing for the big day
End Water Poverty has been getting a big push in Mali, just in time for World Toilet Day, 19 November.
World Toilet Day celebrates the vital importance of sanitation and raises awareness of the global crisis which leaves 2.6 billion people without a safe place to go to the toilet.
In Mali, WaterAid will officially launch a national End Water Poverty campaign in the presence of the President of the Republic, Amadou Toumani Tour. Many people from the development sector are also expected to attend, including diplomats and representatives from all the major embassies and international departments.
During the End Water Poverty campaign launch, the great Malian musicians Ensemble Instrumental du Mali will perform a song about sanitation written especially for the occasion. After the launch, officials will be shown the differences between sanitized areas and non-sanitized sites. Later in the afternoon a concert is planned, featuring some of the most well known singers in the country, including Salif Keita, Amadou and Mariam, Abdoulaye Diabate, and Baba Salah.
WaterAid chief executive Barbara Frost with
the President of Mali
In the run up to World Toilet Day, Imams from mosques throughout the capital Bamako have been talking about sanitation. This is thought to be a particularly effective channel to spread the safe sanitation message.
Throughout the rest of the week, there will be further awareness-raising conferences and public debates on the issue.
This is already a very exciting year for End Water Poverty in Mali because of the huge commitment recently given to sanitation issues from religious chiefs and other traditional communicators.
Together, these events will help raise awareness of sanitation and water issues among even more people in Mali and beyond.
Detail of the End Water Poverty outfits
Newspaper coverage of the event