Today I want to enlighten us about WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 6 talks about accessible water and sanitation for all. Article 19 of the CRPD (Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) talks about PWDs (Persons with Disabilities) living independently in their communities. So, in our stories on this theme, we would like to know, how far do you think we are realizing these provisions, are there other laws locally that talk about WASH, how does their presence or absence affect the lives of PWDs. What could be the role of us individually and as OPDs (Organisations of Persons with Disabilities) in realization of WASH.
What are our stories around WASH? I will begin by sharing with you people that as I grew up, when I was in the village, I never ate anything during the days that I was away from home. I couldn't eat because there were no accessible toilets. When I had a stomach abscess I couldn't go anywhere. But it also affected my self-esteem. The formation of groups and my interactions with other PWDs has helped me to learn a lot from them. For example, I loved wearing trousers as I grew up but didn't know how I could for example urinate with them. But a friend of mine who is in this forum shared with me how she did it and I learnt from her the technique. That's why I believe in #SOS because I know people have different ways of doing things and we can learn from one another.
This is something that should be touched deeper. I never take any drinks whenever I am travelling, being afraid of not getting an accessible disability-friendly toilet in my next destination. Not many disabled people, especially physically (lame) can squat like others. We need to advocate to the society, to raise awareness so that friendly proper sanitation that can accommodate everyone, are accessible in offices, markets, halls, hotels, etc.