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Launch of WaterAid's New iPhone App helps bring relief to billions without a toilet
(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) To mark World Toilet Day, on Thursday 19 November, WaterAid today announced the launch of its new ToiletFinder UK App for iPhone users, available from the App Store. WaterAid's free app for iPhone uses location-based features to find the nearest public toilet to the user, while reminding them how lucky they are to have use of a clean and safe toilet.
"It may be difficult to find a public toilet from time to time here in the UK, but for over 2.5 billion people in the world, it's impossible - there simply isn't one," said WaterAid's Amy Faulkner. "With millions of iPhone users out there the potential reach of this app is huge and could be ground-breaking in terms of raising WaterAid's profile and helping people."
The ToiletFinder UK App lets users find out more about WaterAid and the work it does to bring life-saving water and toilets to the world's poorest people. Globally, 2.5 billion people - that's 40% of the world's population - have nowhere safe to go to the toilet. This crisis means that 4,000 children die every single day from diseases caused by poor water and sanitation.
"For us, trying to find a loo is an inconvenience, but for someone living in the developing world, not having a toilet can be a matter of life or death. We hope that by using the ToiletFinder UK App the British public will think about how lucky they are to have a loo," added Faulkner.
ToiletFinder UK is a UGC (User Generated Content) app, meaning that the toilet database is created by the public who can indicate new or missing toilets using their iPhone and their GPS coordinates. It works by locating the nearest public toilet/bathroom to users on a map or in a list.
The ToiletFinder UK App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.
After using the app, users will have the option of visiting the WaterAid website to find out more about the global sanitation crisis, and make a donation to support the charity's work to ensure access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation for all.
For visuals/spokespeople/further info please contact Brenda McIlwraith: brendamcilwraith@wateraid.org or call 020 7793 2245.
Note to editors:
World Toilet Day highlights the global sanitation crisis: 2.5 billion people - that's 40% of the world's population - have nowhere safe to go to the toilet, resulting in 4,000 child deaths every day. In fact, poor sanitation is one of the biggest child killers - more deadly than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Lack of toilets also halts progress on other crucial efforts to end poverty, including fighting extreme hunger and access to education.
WaterAid's vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities. We work with partners and influence decision-makers to maximise our impact. www.wateraid.org
- At least 4,000 children die every day as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation.
- 884 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly one in eight of the world's population.
- 2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation, this is almost two fifths of the world's population.
- Just GBP15 can enable one person to access safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation.
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(c) 2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS
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