Many Still Lack Hygienic Practices

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie
 makes life a wonderful journey.

            The article “Toilet condition defines society’s culture” (NST, Dec 12) by Datuk Dr 
Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid should be an eye opener to all of us, as many still perceive toilets as being dirty places that deserve less priority.

            In the old days, toilets were nowhere to be found, and thinking about how our great-grandparents had lived without toilets would make us burst into laughter or sneer at how unlikely the situation may seem. 

          We are fortunate to live in the modern era, as our lives have been made easy with the availability of toilets. However, such advancements have, unfortunately, failed to civilize the minds and attitudes of many, who use toilets carelessly.

            Some say that those who take great care of their home toilets have good hygiene, and the theory is possibly true. In reality, there are many homes with spotless kitchens, clean living rooms and neat bedrooms, but the toilets are not as well managed as the other areas in the house. This is a common situation that leaves visitors flabbergasted and disappointed.

            In some recreational parks, filling stations and bus stations, public restrooms are either not properly managed or left unattended. The lack of supervision by the authorities and users’ bad habits are factors to these toilets’ dreadful condition. 

          When smokers puff away in restroom stalls, they do not just drop cigarettes on the floor, but also leave the place smelling of smoke. In addition, toilet bowls have become places where some people discard tissue paper and wrappers, thus, clogging them. And when somebody forgets to flush, the whole place will reek of unpleasant odour, torturing the next user.

            Vandalism, too, has made public restrooms less convenient to users. The damage includes broken mirrors and door latches, as well as graffiti on the walls. With some public restrooms charging entry fees, users may feel that the fee is not worth it.

Cleanliness should be made a cultural habit.

            The same situation happens in schools. The toilets are in poor condition, mostly because students break the rules. Not only do misbehaving students litter and cause water to overflow when they do not turn off the faucets, but they also break down cubicle doors.

       It is hard for the cleaners to keep toilets clean, especially in large schools. As a result, school toilets are smelly, filthy and wet most of the time.    

            To prevent the situation from deteriorating, every school needs to educate students on the importance of sanitation and good hygiene. As for public toilets, frequent checks by the authorities may help, while close-circuit television cameras could be installed.

            Together, let us make cleanliness a cultural habit. 

Courtesy of New Straits Times

18 December 2014