Arsenic Contamination of Drinking Water
Bangladesh is the
World's Most Vulnerable Country

Control Measures Taken by Government of Bangladesh for mitigation of Arsenic Contamination

• The Government of Bangladesh has framed three Committees: The National Steering Committee headed by the Hon'ble Health and Family Welfare Minister, The Arsenic Technical Committee headed by the Director General of Health Services and the Scientific Research Committee headed by the Chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC).
• Government has taken 4 strategies to mitigate the problem. These include: Immediate detection of the arsenicoses patients and ensure their treatment, find out alternate sources of safe drinking water, find out reasons of arsenic contamination in soil water, and conduct health education campaigns encouraging people avoid arsenic contaminated drinking water.

Government has taken Short Term and Long-Term programs to implement the strategies. These are as follows:

Short Term Programs

• Conduct survey to detect problem prone population group who is drinking arsenic contaminated water.
• Detect arsenicoses patients
• Provide treatment to arsenicoses patients and ensure follow-ups.
• Create alternate source of drinking water in problem prone areas. Distribute de-arsination filters and digging deep tube wells. Encourage people use alum to de-arsinate contaminated water.
• Create laboratory facilities for quantitative analysis of arsenic and determine its toxicity levels in humans.
• Conduct training courses for officers and staff in the health services.
• Conduct national survey to identify new problem prone areas.
• Conduct appropriate health education campaigns.
• Create outpatient services for detection and treatment of arsenicoses patients throughout the country.
• Build communications programs with national and international organizations for collaboration in the control measures.

Long Term Programs

• Find out causes of arsenic contamination of soil water, identify sources and take control measures.
• Create a Surveillance Team starting from grass-root level up to the central level to identify, treat, follow up and conduct water-testing activities.
• Establish 10-bed arsenic hospitals in the affected districts with a view to provide treatment to the complicated patients and also conduct research.
• Launch a national training course for the health personnel and staff.
• Find out long term alternate source of safe drinking water.
• Launch effective water management scheme for encouraging people ensure rational use of ground water.
• Include media people in the prevention of arsenic contamination program.
• Develop necessary information, education and communication (IEC) materials to enhance awareness of the people.

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