BSS, Rajshahi :
Arsenic poses a serious threat to the health of the drought-affected people as tube-well waters in the region, particularly in seven upazilas of Rajshahi and Chapainawabgonj districts have become vulnerable to the arsenic contamination.
The people of Godagari and Tanore Upazilas of Rajshahi and Volahat upazila of Chapainwabganj, bordering the Indian state of West Bengal, are the worst sufferers as they use arsenic contaminated ground water for drinking.
However, the arsenicosis could be prevented coupled with reducing its fatal consequences if the patients are ensured with safe drinking water and proper healthcare management on preliminary stage.
“Although the government and the NGOs with the help of UNICEF have been trying to mitigate the problem and find out alternate sources of safe drinking water the measures still remain at the micro-level,” said Dr Shahana Alam, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Tanore.
She was addressing a daylong upazila level orientation on arsenicosis issue and its contamination and mitigation held at Tanore Upazila Health Complex Thursday as resource person. Upazila Health Complex and NGO Forum for Public Health jointly organized the discussion.
A project titled “Enhancing Governance and Capacity of Service Providers and Civil Society in Water Supply and Sanitation” supported the programme.
With Upazila Nirbahi Officer Moniruzzaman Bhuiyan in the chair, Upazila Vice-chairman Abdur Rahim, Talanda UP Chairman Akheruzzaman Hannan, Regional Manager of NGO Forum for Public Health Rabiul Haque and its Programme Facilitator Sabit Zahan Shishir, among others, addressed the discussion.
Dr Shahana Alam stressed the need for massive research by the government, adding that UNICEF, World Bank, and other donor agencies should come forward in assisting the government as it requires a big fund to face the challenge.
She sought cooperation of the media people to project the hazards of arsenic and bring changes to behavior and habits of the people in their search for alternative safe drinking water.
Rabiul Haque said, “We have detected 20,541 tube-wells out of 92,000 infected by arsenic contamination in Chapainawabgonj. We have tested the tube-wells and found arsenic contamination in 80 percent of the tube-wells in five upazilas.”
The fight against arsenic is very tough. Coordinated efforts of different government and non-government organisations are essential to stem the arsenic contamination,” he said.
In many cases, he said the epidermis disorder damage liver, kidney and eye side by side with creating social stigma.
In this context, he emphasized the need for creating mass awareness in the vulnerable areas so that the people could prevent the disease before infection.
