Media Release
October 31, 2005
UniSA leads drive to reduce arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh
If you live in Bangladesh and drink water from one of the many ground wells, you’re lucky if the naturally-occurring arsenic in the water gives you nasty skin lesions. For the unlucky, death is the result of prolonged exposure to the poisoned water.
Seventy-five per cent of Bangladesh’s population is affected by drinking arsenic-contaminated ground water, a situation the World Health Organisation describes as “the largest mass poisoning of a population in history”.
When UniSA social science student Janine Tuffery met Bangladeshi Professor Profulla Sarker during his visit to Adelaide in October last year, the stories she heard about arsenic-filled water in Bangladesh moved her to action.
“The stories were shocking. We’re talking about 85 million people affected or killed by arsenic that leeches from rocks into the ground water,” Tuffery said. “Those who can afford it drink bottled water. But Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world, so many people don’t have that option.”
Tuffery is spearheading an aid project between UniSA and Bangladesh’s Rajshahi University to deliver to Bangladesh 500 large containers that store fresh rainwater.
“We’ve found a suitable low-cost water container,” Tuffery said. “They’re large 200-litre bladders used to store bulk wine. They’re sterile and light-weight, they can easily be transported and they’re relatively cheap and reusable. We forwarded one to Professor Sarker, he ran tests and contacted us to say it was a success. He immediately drew up a proposal.”
Dubbed “Bladders for Bangladesh”, the project is supported by social science lecturer Peter Lumb and a committee of fellow students. The group is working to purchase and deliver the bladders and implement a pilot project before the monsoon season in June 2006.
“Bangladesh has high rainfall, so it has a resource just waiting to be harnessed,” Tuffery said. “But collecting rain is not a traditional practice in Bangladesh, so education and training is also a crucial part of the project.”
A field placement exchange with Rajshahi University, where UniSA students will travel to Bangladesh to help distribute bladders and conduct community education programs, is being drawn up.
The Bladders for Bangladesh campaign is looking to raise $12,000.
Contacts for Interviews
- Janine Tuffery, UniSA Social Science student mobile 0438 833 721
email tufjg001@students.unisa.edu.au - Darlene Ford, UniSA student
committee mobile 0412 308 974
email fordr001@students.unisa.edu.au - Ry Johnston, UniSA student committee mobile 0439 504 600
email johrh001@students.unisa.edu.au
Media contact
- Emma Masters, office (08) 8302 0096 mobile 0403 007 723 email emma.masters@unisa.edu.au