Some 29pc of country's population arsenic affected : expert
Monday, 1 October 2007
Some 29 per cent of the country's total population are affected by arsenic contamination, chief engineer of the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) Mustafizur Rahman said, reports UNB.
"All tube-wells in 8,000 villages across the country are found cent per cent arsenic contaminated," he disclosed the information at a press briefing where Health Adviser Dr ASM Matiur Rahman was present.
Secretary of Local Government, Rural Develop-ment and Cooperatives Ministry Safarraj Hossain was also present at the briefing, held at the DPHE conference room Sunday. The briefing was held on the eve of launching the "Sanitation Month - October 2007".
Speaking on the occasion, the Health Adviser said, Bangladesh government started the sanitation movement across the country to ensure sanitation for all by the year 2010. He said extension of well-developed sanitation facilities in developing countries would play a positive role to attain the UN declared Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said, the United Nations declared the year 2008 as 'Sanitation Year' highlighting the benefits of sanitation. The campaign is designed to set up sanitary latrines at every household and ensure people's access to pure drinking water.
The Health Adviser said some 84.73 per cent coverage of sanitation has been attained in the country until June 2007, while some 33.21 per cent families used sanitary latrines in 2003 when the formal campaign for sanitation began.
Nearly 100 percent sanitation coverage has been achieved in four districts, 54 municipalities, 95 upazilas, Tejgaon circle in Dhaka City Corporation and some 1,211 union councils, he said.
He emphasised environment-friendly sanitation system and the need for practicing individual health habits.
"Only hand washing can reduce some 70 per cent diseases," he said.
Water supply, management of toilets and sanitation facilities in public places in big cities including Dhaka are quite difficult to ensure, he said, adding that sanitation for the floating people has always been a 'big challenge'.
"All tube-wells in 8,000 villages across the country are found cent per cent arsenic contaminated," he disclosed the information at a press briefing where Health Adviser Dr ASM Matiur Rahman was present.
Secretary of Local Government, Rural Develop-ment and Cooperatives Ministry Safarraj Hossain was also present at the briefing, held at the DPHE conference room Sunday. The briefing was held on the eve of launching the "Sanitation Month - October 2007".
Speaking on the occasion, the Health Adviser said, Bangladesh government started the sanitation movement across the country to ensure sanitation for all by the year 2010. He said extension of well-developed sanitation facilities in developing countries would play a positive role to attain the UN declared Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said, the United Nations declared the year 2008 as 'Sanitation Year' highlighting the benefits of sanitation. The campaign is designed to set up sanitary latrines at every household and ensure people's access to pure drinking water.
The Health Adviser said some 84.73 per cent coverage of sanitation has been attained in the country until June 2007, while some 33.21 per cent families used sanitary latrines in 2003 when the formal campaign for sanitation began.
Nearly 100 percent sanitation coverage has been achieved in four districts, 54 municipalities, 95 upazilas, Tejgaon circle in Dhaka City Corporation and some 1,211 union councils, he said.
He emphasised environment-friendly sanitation system and the need for practicing individual health habits.
"Only hand washing can reduce some 70 per cent diseases," he said.
Water supply, management of toilets and sanitation facilities in public places in big cities including Dhaka are quite difficult to ensure, he said, adding that sanitation for the floating people has always been a 'big challenge'.