Just two of every 10 public toilets in this country meet Public Health Ministry hygiene standards.

The ministry asked people how happy they were about using public toilets. Just four in 10 said they were happy, the 2007 survey found.

Health Department director-general Dr Narongsakdi  Aungkasuvapala says the ministry plans to get all public toilets to its hygiene standard.

Toilets at tourist spots, restaurants, fresh markets, bus terminals, ports and airports, gas stations, schools, hospitals, government offices, religious places and department stores are first on the list to be improved.

The ministry will have help from the Education Ministry in improving toilets at more than 400 vocational schools.

Deputy Health Minister Chavarat Chanveerakul says the ministry will help vocational schools meet its hygiene standards. The Education Ministry will pay for improvements and Siam City Cement Company will provide cement.

Bettering the health and safety standards of toilets at the schools will reduce illness among students.

To raise public awareness, the ministry is organising cleanest toilet competition. More details are available at the ministry.

It aims to have more than six of every 10 public toilets meet its standards.