A few years ago, we experimented with the idea to make slight adaptations of a deep tube-well design and make it more of an eye catcher and trigger its use. The platforms around the deep tube wells were upgraded into small bathrooms. This was an entirely new idea in the context of Bangladesh. Continue reading
Since 2006, we have worked on establishing arsenic free drinking water supplies and developed protocols for the identification, diagnosis and treatment of arsenicosis in the Munshiganj district. However, access to safe water and to symptomatic treatment of arsenicosis will not be effective without broader health improvements. In 2013, we completed the construction of a clinic (at the sub-district level) with support from the Japan Government. Its purpose is to help address gaps in existing primary health care services. Continue reading
A while ago, we set up an online campaign to raise funds for an ambulance that would support the activities of our clinic in Munshiganj. We are now very happy to announce that sufficient funds have been collected and that we will soon take steps towards purchasing the vehicle.
We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who participated for their generous donations and for spreading the word. Thank you! We will keep you all updated.
We previously reported on the stories of two women suffering from the social stigma caused by the symptoms of arsenic poisoning, or arsenicosis. Many people believe arsenicosis is contagious or that it is a curse. Parents are reluctant to let their children play with children suffering from the poisoning and patients can be shunned within their villages. Continue reading
Please have a read through this news digest of recent online publications on arsenic.
Risk substitution with well switching
Millions of households throughout Bangladesh have been exposed to high levels of arsenic (As) causing various deadly diseases by drinking groundwater from shallow tubewells for the past 30 years. Well testing has been the most effective form of mitigation because it has induced massive switching from tubewells that are high (>50 µg/L) in As to neighboring wells that are low in As. A recent study has shown, however, that shallow low-As wells are more likely to be contaminated with the fecal indicator E. coli than shallow high-As wells, suggesting that well switching might lead to an increase in diarrheal disease. Continue reading
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) are essential for people’s in rural Bangladesh. AMRF is implementing a project supported by WaterAid Bangladesh to reduce WaSH vulnerabilities in the arsenic affected areas of Munshiganj district. Our approach is based on the formation of Community Based Organisations (CBOs). This has to be done with great care, to ensure participation of people that are normally marginalised. Continue reading
Short report prepared by: Md. Zahangir Alam, Union Supervisor, Shologhar, Munshiganj.
Joshna (25) comes from a very poor family. She got married eight years ago and now has two children. Joshna grew up in one of the most arsenic affected areas in the Munshigonj district. From her childhood, she has been drinking arsenic contaminated water. Continue reading
The report of our first year collaboration with WaterAid Bangladesh has been completed. The PROWSHAR project (Promoting safe water and sanitation access and hygiene motivation among rural poor in Arsenic Affected areas of Munshiganj) started in 2013 with the aim to reduce WaSH vulnerabilities in arsenic affected areas. This project will continue up to December 2016 and it will cover 4 Unions of 2 Upazilas under Munshiganj district. The first year was implemented in two Unions of Sreenagar Upazila. This report presents the key achievements against targets in all activities done in last year (2013-2014).
After winning their short film award, we are now grateful for featuring in Ventura Water’s ‘Water: Take 1′ newsletter. The contest presents water-themed short films – narrative, documentary, comedy, drama, animation, live action – to a jury made up of leaders in water and environmental issues, entertainment professionals and influential members of the community. The contest reopens in September this year.
Interdisciplinary Student Research
By Jorian Bakker, Kennard Burer, Martijn Kamps, Anne Kervers
Since the problem identification of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh, several mitigation options have been tried to provide safe drinking water. However, they have not had the intended effect yet. Often policy makers do not take local characteristics thoroughly into account. We have focused on creating an integrative tool that policy makers may use heuristically to choose the most feasible mitigation option when arsenic concentrations exceed the Bangladesh National Standard (BNS) in groundwater. A tool was designed that incorporates the key considerations and local conditions for developing arsenic mitigation policy in Bangladesh. This tool was composed using certain key-criteria that are absolutely necessary to take into account when assessing which mitigation method is most feasible on a specific location. This tool is the final product of interconnecting key-criteria. Continue reading
