My friend, who works for the Water & Sanitation Program at the World Bank, passed along a short animated film they just produced on sanitation issues [read: poop] in Pakistan. Aside from my joking title, [a throwback to the fantastic children’s book, Everyone Poops] sanitation issues are a very serious problem in the developing world, particularly in rural and slum areas. According to statistics released by the Joint Monitoring Program, 90% of Pakistan’s urban population use improved sanitation [i.e., a toilet or a pit latrine], while 4% use shared [a toilet in a community that’s shared]. Only 6% defecate in the open. In contrast, only 40% of the country’s rural population use improved sanitation, 5% use shared, and 10% use unimproved sanitation [i.e., a hole in the ground]. This means that 45% of Pakistan’s rural population defecate [poop] in the open.
The film below explains exactly why this issue is so important, particularly from a public health perspective. Open defecation free, a term used in the cartoon, refers to when 100% of a community/village/town do not use the bathroom outside, [the most ideal scenario is to use improved sanitation methods, but the basic standard is not defecating outside]. However, as an article about sanitation in a small town in Pakistan also noted, becoming open defecation free requires more than just building toilets – raising awareness is also key. As the animated film below shows, change can occur when communities are empowered to become involved in the process. That way, change is more permanent than transient, and sanitation issues are properly addressed in the long run.
CHUP! - Changing Up Pakistan 
[…] “Everybody Poops”, url: “http://teabreak.pk/everybody-poops-42/17936/” }); Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan animated film, chup, cup of tea, defecate, developing world, everybody poops, fantastic […]
In an IUCN report that I was reading about the northern areas in Pakistan, they talk about how the villagers (because of non-availability) of a proper drainage system and sewerage defecate in a corner of their house and then every day/week, go and empty this in some field.
It has been known to cause a lot of diseases, vector and water borne. =(
Thanks for highlighting this, Kalsoom. I know how big a problem this is and with my work with the Urban, Water and Sanitation Deptt for South Asia with the Bank, I’ve realized that this really is a pressing problem.
Thanks Yawar-
I have to confess slight ignorance on this issue despite my WB friend (she is AM from now on) forwarding me links about water sanitation issues on a regular basis. It wasn’t until she sent me a CARTOON that I was like “oooh, this is interesting.” Oh well! Many thanks AM for the clip and being subjected to my grilling about defecation statistics! You are POOPtastic!
Without awareness nothing could be achieved
Now this is some good way of creating awareness not just children get fascinated by this bt even elders get some point of thought in it as well…
Keeping in mind cartoons, I saw the cartoon in “An Inconvenient Truth’ at a seminar and it made sense to even those who had no idea what climate change is all about.
So cartoons/animations are a great way to connect with ppl
“THIS CANNOT GO ON!!!” Fav line. and I love how his mustash moves when he speaks, instead of his lips.
and I love the water carrier’s seductive hip movements.
and I screamed in horror as the poop slowly made its way from the glass into the old man’s mouth.
Sanitation can be fun indeed!
I agree Yawar,
It’s the same with comic books/graphic novels too. I read Maus for a genocide seminar in college, and it was so powerful BECAUSE it was a comic book. Definitely recommend it.
And yes, Reimas, I also closed my eyes during that same moment!
The World Bank makes great visual aids re: development issues. I remember when I used to live in Bangladesh, a poster was circulated with the cartoon picture of a village housewife with multiple arms coming out of her sides, kind of like a familiar Hindu goddess. Each arm was doing a different chore: cleaning, cooking, taking care of the kids, farming. The poster still stands out in my mind today and this video achieves something very similar. Thank you Kalsoom, and AM, for sharing this with us.
Lipstick Masala: My mom has that poster in her closet! the best part is the caption under the image of the multi-tasking woman which reads :
“My Wife Does Not Work”
[…] “Everyone Poops”, url: “http://teabreak.pk/everyone-poops-42/17992/” }); Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan animated film, chup, cup of tea, defecate, developing world, everyone poops, fantastic […]
I know I sound utterly ditzy, but the guy in the blue shalwar kamiz to the right of the opening frame of the video looks just like Gilani.
That’s not Gilani! That’s Younis!! The poop guy!
Maybe the illustrious hair swoop threw you off.
A twitter animation to brighten your day…off topic. sowwee…
@ World bank should inform us about water & sanitation in
India and should also show us the Personal Hygienic
situation in US and 25 European countries which is logically
related to the subject
@ I can see the whole PPP in this video even
small Altafo with his new wife !! Zardari with pagree,
but don’t see ” Mon Sherry “
Kalsoom, thanks for posting this. Currently 2.5 billion people worldwide lack access to basic sanitation – according to the JMP.
There was limited increase in ‘access’ to sanitation in Pakistan in the 1990s. However, since 2002/03, there have been marked improvements. JMP noted that between 1990 and 2006 rural access to sanitation has grown from 14% to 40%, and urban access has grown from 76% to 90% enabling an overall sanitation sector growth from 33% to 58%. Pakistan is now not only likely to meet, but should current trends continue, it will exceed by some margin its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for sanitation.
While the progress in meeting these targets is significant and laudable, there are continuing concerns over the quality of the services. About 2,000 million gallons of sewage is discharged to surface water bodies every day in Pakistan, according to the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the World Bank. UNICEF estimates that some 20-40% of hospital beds in Pakistan are occupied by patients suffering from water and sanitation related diseases. 60% of the total number of child mortality cases in Pakistan is caused by water and sanitation related diseases – according to USAID.
The horrific toll that these illnesses and deaths take on society can never be measured in financial costs, but it is important to note how much in financial terms it costs the people of Pakistan not to have universal access to sanitation.
The Pakistan Strategic Environmental Assessment (World Bank, 2006) estimates that of the financial cost to Pakistan from environmental degradation the highest is from water and sanitation at 112 billion rupees. In the same report, the total health costs from the water and sanitation related diseases of diarrhoea and typhoid is estimated at 114 billion rupees, or 1.81 % of GDP.
Some 50 million people (JMP, 2006) still practice open defecation as of 2006 in Pakistan. To fully meet this challenge, sector stakeholders agree that the ‘people’s movement’ in Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), depicted in the film, must be supported.
Very shocking stats – thanks AM.
I remember when I used to live in Bangladesh, a poster was circulated with the cartoon picture of a village housewife with multiple arms coming out of her sides, kind of like a familiar Hindu goddess.
>>>>>>>>
I think I actually have that poster somewhere it storage. It certainly must have got around! (I think I got a copy from the guesthouse ran by either the NGO that was making the posters or affiliated to the campaign).
And yes, my wife of course does not work 🙂
This issue is not only relate to rural areas as shown in video but some of the deaths at urban peripheries are also caused by usage of contaminated water.
This issue topic should be highlighted more appropriately to create awareness and to show the consequences.