Photos from the SIM-Bangladesh
Arsenic Poisoning Prevention Project
A large percentage of the wells across southern Bangladesh are contaminated with high levels of arsenic, which can impair mental development of children and cause many other serious health issues.
A simple field test can determine amounts of arsenic present. Results are frequently 10x the Bangladesh safety limit (50x the US safety limit), or higher.
An inexpensive filter ($25 US) can remove arsenic from a household's water supply for 5 years or more. These filters are made locally, from local materials.
Education about sources of arsenic & symptoms of poisoning is a key part of the project.
Doctors at mobile medical clinics screen patients for symptoms of arsenic poisoning, and prescribe medications