70% of Thai toilets not fit for a shit - used to be 90%!

70 percent of Thailand's public toilets not up to WHO standards: health minister

The Associated Press
Published: November 16, 2006

BANGKOK, Thailand: Seventy percent of toilets in Thailand's gas stations, transportation hubs and other public places do not meet World Health Organization standards for cleanliness, health officials said Thursday.

But a campaign to provide the public with cleaner facilities appears to be working, Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said at the opening ceremony of the 2006 World Toilet Expo and Forum in Bangkok.

Authorities launched a clean-up campaign after randomly checking 6,149 public toilets across 12 of Thailand's 76 provinces in March and finding that 90 percent did not pass the standards for cleanliness, he said.

Inspectors found bathrooms lacking toilet paper or a bidet-like spray hose, as is common in Thailand as an alternative to paper. Facilities often lacked soap for cleaning hands and had cracked toilet covers.

A second round of inspections in November found that the percentage of dirty toilets had dropped to 70 percent, and authorities are hoping to cut the number to 60 percent in 2007, Mongkol said.

Inspections also found the majority of restrooms weren't accessible to handicapped people, and didn't pass safety standards that require separate male and female bathrooms, he said.

Efforts will focus on cleaning up washrooms at the country's Buddhist temples, he said, noting that 99 percent of the country's toilets in private households did meet international standards.

Bangkok's new international airport, Suvarnabhumi, which opened in September, has come under criticism for several reasons, including its bathroom facilities. The airport initially built 100 toilets for its more than 100,000 daily passengers, sparking long lines and complaints about dirty facilities. Authorities have said they will triple the number of toilets to 300.

International Herald Tribune

HEALTH LAVATORY EXHIBITION
Overseas visitors left in dark by the loos on show at World Toilet Expo
Bangkok Post : APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL

The Health Department's exhibitions on the history and development of toilets in Thailand, as well as the royal projects on national public health, have failed to draw the attention of international delegates at the World Toilet Expo and Forum. A lack of information in English was blamed for the low attendances at the exhibitions held at the Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, Muang Thong Thani yesterday. The expo ends tomorrow
Most foreign visitors could not make out what the exhibitions were about and walked past them because they did not understand the information, which was presented mostly in Thai.

''It's a pity that international participants cannot understand what these exhibitions are all about by only looking at pictures,'' said Peter Gorges, a delegate from Australia.

Tai Li Jiang from China said he was disappointed because no English pamphlets were available for international delegates, although there was a multimedia presentation with English subtitles
Bangkok is hosting the second World Toilet Expo and Forum 2006 under the theme ''Happy Toilet, Healthy Life''. The event also showcases the latest toilet-related trends, technologies and products.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the expo, Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said he planned to increase the number of public toilets designed to meet hygienic safety standards by 60% next year.

Thailand has constantly attempted to improve toilets and currently 99% of Thai households have hygienic toilets.
He said sufficient clean toilets have a role in improving the quality of life of the public and are also an indicator of cultural sophistication.
Therefore, the ministry will push for more hygienic public toilets to be built across the country, he said.
Mr Mongkol said a random survey conducted in March showed that 5,993 out of 6,149 public toilets in Nonthaburi, Lop Buri, Chon Buri, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Amnat Charoen, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Chiang Rai, Krabi and Pattani were below standard.

A total of 90% of them were in poor hygienic conditions
Rubbish bins were kept in some toilets without a lid. Some lacked toilet rolls, soap and toilet shower hoses.
The survey found that 76% were not designed to cater to the disabled, the elderly and pregnant women
It found that 69% are shared by both men and women, with their floors getting wet and slippery. Some are located in isolated and potentially dangerous spots.
Mr Mongkol said the ministry will make sure that 60% of public toilets across the country will meet the required hygienic standards next year.


Narongsak Angkhasuwapala, director-general of the Department of Healt
said entrepreneurs have played an important role in providing enough clean and safe toilets and maintaining hygienic standards.
Mr Narongsak called on consumers to give feedback on the conditions of toilets they use at different places.
The Health Department will also launch a campaign for clean toilets and will give a ''Happy Toilet'' label to hygienic toilets

I've just seen a trailer for a film where the hero is a man who cleans toilets. :geek:

I've just seen a trailer for a film where the hero is a man who cleans toilets. :geek:

Bet it got a PP rating.

Does this include the cum soaked loos in Big C Darl??