The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s exhibit “A Better Way to Go: Toilets and the Future of Sanitation” highlights the importance of improving access to safe sanitation for the 3.5 billion people worldwide who currently do not have it. Doulaye Kone, the head of the foundation’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene team, leads efforts to achieve this goal. The exhibit showcases various ways people around the world go to the bathroom, the challenges of unsafe waste handling, and the need for reinvented toilets and crucial partnerships to create resilient and sustainable sanitation systems.
The foundation’s focus on sanitation aligns with its mission of improving health and reducing child mortality. By investing in cleaner sanitation systems, they aim to potentially prevent the need for vaccines, especially for diseases transmitted through contact with human waste. The exhibit also addresses the issue of aging infrastructure and how it will be affected by climate change. Through interactive displays, visitors are engaged with the topic of sanitation, breaking down taboos and educating them on the global sanitation crisis and innovative solutions being developed to address it.
The exhibit covers seven themes related to sanitation, ranging from the biology of human waste to exploring different methods for waste disposal and the challenges of unsafe waste handling. It also highlights the issue of inadequate toilets in certain regions, particularly affecting women and girls. The ultimate goal is to encourage visitors to consider the importance of sanitation and the impact it has on public health and environmental sustainability. The exhibit also showcases innovative technological solutions and presents an optimistic view of a future where sanitation challenges have been met.
Through the exhibit, the Gates Foundation aims to raise awareness of sanitation issues and inspire action to address the global sanitation crisis. By educating young people and others about the importance of safe sanitation practices, the foundation hopes to drive change and promote access to sanitation for all. The exhibit serves as an educational tool for visitors to learn about the diverse experiences of sanitation around the world and the potential for innovative solutions to improve sanitation systems. By highlighting the challenges and solutions associated with sanitation, the exhibit aims to foster a deeper understanding of the topic and inspire change in individual behavior and attitudes towards sanitation.
