Creation of Good Practices

i. Union Arsenic Test by Field-Kit

The facility for arsenic test of tube well water was primarily introduced by the AAN and University of Miyazaki, Japan in March 2007. But with our sole effort, we first take initiative to create water quality testing facility at Union Council, the grass-root local government institution. Now it is introduced in different parts of the country. The world bank also considered as a good practice and introduced it under Local Government Support Project (LGSP).

ii. ADP (Annual Development Program) Budget Allocation for arsenicosis patients medicine purchasing

ADP budget usually used for different development sectors of an upazila. Before 2008, there was no provision of using any part of this budget for purchasing medicine for arsenicosis patients. When One project of the AAN focused in an Upazila Arsenic Mitigation Committee meeting that arsenicosis is an emerging problem in arsenic contaminated area and there is no management fund that could be utilized to buy medicine for patients. Then attention was given to allocate fund from ADP budget. It was first introduced in Sharsha and Chowgacha upzilas and on January 14, 2008, Local Government Division made a circular to introduce it all over the country. Now arsenicosis patients are enjoying this facility.

iii. Hydrogeological Feasibility Survey

Installation of a safe water device requires certain considerations to ensure availability of water round the year and safe consumption. To confirm this, the AAN has established a survey called “Hydrogeological Feasibility Survey”. We conduct this prior to installation of any safe water devices to save financial loss and to ensure sustainability. This good practice is now being shared with other organizations and created huge interest among them.

iv Arsenic Fair

Fair on the occasion of different festivals is a tradition and essential part of rural Bangladesh. Keeping its form, we have considered Arsenic Fair to throw the messages of arsenic poisoning and its consequences and mitigation means among general people within a very short period of time and in a very attractive style.

v. Arsenic Rally

Though rally for different awareness campaigns is conducted to attract people, we have introduced Arsenic Rally, Involving Union Council and educational institutions in our areas of activities. We create festoons, banner, effigy etc to make it colorful and to reach the minds of common people.

vi. Food Habit Change

Nutrition intake/ food habit and development of arsenicosis symptoms are seen from our survey in Samta village of Sharsha Upazila, Jashore district. Rich family members and poor family members were drinking water from same contaminated tube well, but rich family did not have any symptoms, whereas poor family developed arsenicosis symptoms. Though one of our project, we tried to increase and change food intake with the aim of reducing the threat of arsenicosis. We could see improvement of symptoms and amzingly the food habit of residents changed sharply.

vii. Cooking Style Changed

We have seen that because of our mass cuisine program and lectures on nutrition, most of the households in our activity area changed their way of food processing and cooking style. During the nutrition and cooking classes, the following messages were delivered to women as part of the guidance:
1. To keep boiled water after cooking rice
2. To wash vegetables before cutting
3. To add salt at end of cooking to conserve iodine.