Bangladesh is battling an ongoing public health crisis. In the 1970s, the Bangladeshi government received funding to drill millions of shallow tube wells in villages to supply clean drinking water to the people. In 1993*, it was discovered the water from these wells contained dangerously high levels of naturally occurring arsenic from the soil. Although this happened decades ago, groundwater arsenic contamination continues to affect millions of people in Bangladesh.  

SIMaid’s Arsenic Alleviation & Awareness Program (AAAP) works to reduce suffering among impoverished communities in Bangladesh that are impacted by arsenic contamination. Motivated by the love of Christ, the project focuses on raising awareness, testing water quality in villages, providing subsidised water filters, and medical treatment for arsenicosis – the disease that forms when somebody ingests arsenic-contaminated water over a long period. The project also works with Arsenicosis patients to improve household level kitchen gardening opportunities, helping patients grow nutrient rich vegetables which plays a key role in reversing the symptoms of chronic arsenic poisoning. 

 

For over 20 years, the project has been bringing holistic transformation to communities so that people can drink water fit for life. Min is one woman who has been supported by the AAAP team.  

Min’s Story 

Min is a young and otherwise healthy-looking woman, but her hands and feet are covered with dozens of rough spots and jagged bumps. This condition is keratosis, one of several outwardly visible signs of arsenic poisoning on the body. Min is just one of the many millions of people in Bangladesh affected by arsenic poisoning.  

The effects of drinking contaminated water over a long time has impacted Min’s ability to do many types of daily activities due to the pain and inconvenience the bumps have on her hands and feet.  

Min found out about the cause of her condition when two AAAP workers visited her village. Awal, one of the workers, found her by going to each house in the village, showing photos of arsenicosis symptoms and asking if anyone knew someone who had similar symptoms.  

Min and two other ladies were identified as having symptoms of arsenicosis. Awal informed the ladies that the AAAP team would arrange a mobile clinic to visit their village the following month. At the mobile clinic, the team provides a doctor and then covers 75% of the cost of any medicines the doctor prescribes to help the bodies fight to eliminate arsenic. The women listened carefully and were motivated to attend the clinic and take the treatments the doctor would prescribe.  

Praise God, Min and the two other women were able to receive help from AAAP and visited the mobile clinic in their village. The women expressed their gratitude for the team’s help and continual support in helping them learn about and access safe drinking water.  
 

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*www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2018

GIVE: Help bring holistic transformation to communities in Bangladesh through the Arsenic Alleviation & Awareness Program! Give by visiting sim.org.au/Donate/Project/Community-transformation-fund/Arsenic-Alleviation-Program.