Dr. M.I.Zuberi, from the Rajshahi University in Bangladesh is a committed fighter against arsenic pollution of groundwater in Bangladesh. He and his team regularly visit affected villages trying to help families. He reports on-line on his experiences to the arsenic-crisis Yahoo group.

Dr. Zuberi has given Source Bulletin permission to share a particularly moving story from Syedpur village in Pabna district, in the south of the country.

It illustrates the loss of hope in many villages in Bangladesh for measures by government and non-governmental organisations for effective prevention or cure of arsenic pollution. Hope dies when organisations visit the village, paint polluted handpumps red for danger and talk about alternative solutions, but then never come back.

Dr Zuberi wrote:

"We visited several arsenic affected villages of Bera Upozila of Pabna (western Bangladesh) during July 6 & 7, 2003. In this report we concentrate on the village Syedpur which was reported to have 450 to 500 households and to be very badly affected by arsenic. More than 70% of the tube wells (about two hundred) are marked 'red' There are more than 200 patients with visual symptoms of arsenicosis. We saw several in two families

"The most important point is that many households were observed using the 'red' tube wells for drinking and cooking. We had discussion with families of Isakuddin, Jinnah, Eunus Ali, Dulal all from 'Madhyapara' of Syedpur ? all are using water from 'red' tube wells. When asked why they were doing so, the following history emerged.

"There were reports of a large number of arsenicosis patients from this village 3 to 4 years ago when there were several deaths. Workers from NGO Forum screened their tube wells 2 years ago and marked the contaminated wells 'red' asking them not to drink water from them. About 70% of the wells were contaminated. When the villagers asked what they should do instead, they were advised to use 'green' wells. Those who do not have 'green' wells nearby requested alternative sources. The workers said they wanted to come back with a solution later. But they did not come back. In the meantime people resumed drinking from contaminated wells.

"Several months ago, doctors and workers from Dhaka Community Hospital visited the village and collected blood, hair, nail and other samples for testing. Villagers were given 'cards' for each member of the family. But they said they had no feed back on what this team had found.

"Many other teams visited them, interviewed them, collected samples of human tissue, vegetables, tube well water, cooked materials. But nobody came back with any results, remedy or any other support.

"The local branch of Gonosasthya Kendra (GK) has been providing some vitamins to the worst affected patients. Only last month GK took the initiative to dig two 'dug wells' but these are yet to be completed.

"The village community now has no faith in adopting mitigation measures because they have lost all hope. They responded vaguely to our suggestions of rain- water, solar removal of arsenic, solar treatment of pond water, charcoal/sand filtration and other remedial measures which they can adopt.

"Many patients are in need of intensive attention here. In a number of villages, there should be thorough mitigation action through community involvement. This is important to restore hope to those who are affected and save the community from rapid degradation of society. The communities are physically and morally on the decline. The scene is simply pathetic. When a 15 year old girl of named Nargis came to show me her amputated leg, I felt I could not stand it any more. We need to give immediate attention to this situation."

For more information: Dr. M.I Zuberi.

Source: Dr. M.I. Zuberi, zuberimi@yahoo.com

Tags: water quality, water-related diseases