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Many NGOs allegedly using arsenic patients

By Naimul Haq
Many non-government organisations (NGOs) are allegedly using arsenic patients for their own gains.
These NGOs collect samples of tube well water and also of blood, hair and nail from arsenic pattents. Most of these NGOs collect money from external sources in (he name of doing experiments with these samples, it was alleged by the victims and as well a government agency Involved in arsenic-related’ activities.
The NGOs. while taking samples, promise to the victims that the test results would be made known to them, but it Is never done even in several months
This correspondent visited some villages In ManikganJ. Faridpur ami Narayanganj dis-
tricts ami talked to a good number ol arsenic patients and other people.
Most of the victims alleged that NGO representatives collected samples ol their blood, hair and nail without mentioning the purpose* and also took their photos.
Some of them even refused to talk to this correspondent, thinking him to be an NGO representative. When they were convinced that he was a journalist, they alleged that NGOs took samples several months back promising that the test results would be made known to them
Some NGOs also took sum plcs of tube well water. But they could not know .my ot the test results, they alleged, money from them for providing medicine to < ure the disease.
Babul Mia in the same village said. "In last one year. I witnessed many NGO representatives taking blood and hair samples. But none ga\e us any advice on how to diagnose arsenic poisoning."
This correspondent also talked with Dr A Z M Iftekhar. Deputy Project Manager (Arsenic) of government's Health and Population Sector Programme (HPSP). Dr. Iftekhar said, during visits to some affected areas, people told him that some NGO representatives realised money from them while collecting samples of tubewcll water to detect arsenic.
The NGOs also collected money also from donors for testing the samples, but the results were never made known to the affected people, he said
Other sources said many such so-called projects for testing samples of tube well water and blood, nail and hair of victims have cropped up in ManlkganJ, Comilla. Chand-pur. Jessorc and NarayanganJ districts.
So far. there has been no Investigation by the government what the NGOs are doing in the name of so-called laboratory tests, they said.
"1 have given blood samples to representatives of al least three organisations But none of them gave us the name or address of his organisation, said Mollah Mia. an arsenic patient at Hatibarl village in ManlkganJ district.
Mohall's neighbour, suffering from arsenic poisoning for the last five years said. "A group of people identifying themselves as representatives of government agencies took samples of my hair and blood about ten months back. But none of them came back to tell me the test results."
At Wirelesspara in Faridpur town. 38-year-old Belayet Hossain said. "NGO representatives from Dhaka collected my blood and nail samples twice but till now none of them reported anything about the state the poisoning".
At Bhojandanga near the town, some of the affected people refused to talk to this correspondent. Instead, they asked several questions to determine whether this correspondent was a NGO representative.
They asked. "What NGO do you represent? Do you have any business card? We have seen many organisations doing business in the name of experiments," said Didar Mia in anguish.
Another arsenic patient next door said. "Cameramen took out photos and assured us of help by providing alternative source of drinking water. But it is more than six months now that they took our photos."
In Sonargaon thana of NarayanganJ district, some victims refused to allow this correspondent take their photos. One of them wanted to know the purpose of taking photos.
At Nilkanda village in Sonargaon. one of the worst arsenic affected areas where water of over 96 per cent of tubewells are contaminated with arsenic above the permissible level of 0.05 mg/L. people said they will resist such NGO activities in their area.
"We have unanimously decided to hand over to police any person doing any arsenic-related activity," said Mionul Karim, an arsenic patient.
Another victim. Mojibor, said. "A Dhaka-based reputed organisation assured us of setting up a 'mini-clinic' in the village to treat arsenic patients. But there is no sign yet."
Raham Ali. head of Nilkanda Village Development Committee, said. "We are sick and tired of being assured of help. We don’t want help. We want solution".
Further down in the village, some people complained that some NGO representatives cheated them by realising