REVISITING ARSENIC MITIGATION IN BANGLADESH FOR DESIGNING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR DIGITAL DECISION MAKING TO REDUCE EXPOSURE THROUGH DRINKING WATER

The safe limit for arsenic is still 50 ppb in Bangladesh and latest survey by UNICEF reports about 18 million were exposed to this level in 2019, number would be much higher at 10 ppb level. Despite population growth, the number of exposed people declined from 29 million in 2002 to the current level. Following the national hydrochemical survey of 1998-99, millions of dollars have been spent for blanket testing, patient identification and treatment and providing alternative safe water. A National Arsenic Policy and Implementation Plan for Arsenic Mitigation (IPAM) was adopted based on available information until 2004. However, all the efforts were not able to provide the best possible outcomes due to lack of coordinated efforts in selecting and locating alternative safe water options. The initial period of rapid responses (1998-2004) to test wells, raise awareness and provide alternative safe water gradually diminished until reports such as neglect and nepotism started to appear in national and international media in earlier part of the last decade. Government took initiatives to revise the IPAM in 2015 incorporating various research findings and experiences of mitigation activities. Experiences on efficacy of various safe water options distinctly identifies deep tube well as the most effective, socially acceptable and sustainable source of safe water over most of the country. However, there is need for other alternative options in hard to reach areas where DTW does not work. A digital decision-making environment can be created by combining the experiences of the two successful mitigation options viz. Arsenic Safe Union (ASU) of DPHE/UNICE and Sustainable Arsenic Mitigation (SASMIT) of KTH/DU/NGOF. The digital platform ASMITAS has the potential to guide installation of wells at locations where the need is highest and at the target depth where chances of getting safe water is maximum and thus to reduce exposure.