|
 For
many years, Lufta drank groundwater from her local well,
unaware that her severe skin problems were a result of the
arsenic that occurs naturally in her well and the wells of
millions of Bangladeshis. After understanding the problem,
Lufta and her family started drinking water from a distant
river until IDE helped her install a rainwater harvesting
system. Gone now are the days of hauling water and today
Lufta carefully maintains the system that provides
convenient, clean drinking water to her, her husband and
her daughter.
Lutfa, age 22, is married to Manik, a
contractor, and is the mother of two children Riya, 5
years old, and Faria, 1 year old. She finished grade 8,
but wants to see her daughters go even further with their
education and is careful to see that they get the best
care so that they can succeed.
Four years ago she learned about the dangers of arsenic
contaminated groundwater from radio and television
announcements. The public service advisories described the
symptoms of arsenicosis - rashes and black spots on the
hands and feet- and these matched some of the health
problems Lufta had been experiencing. She shared with
Manik her suspicion that she might be suffering from
arsenic poisoning because of the well water they were
drinking and her fear that her condition would worsen if
she did not start drinking clean water. Together they
decided to have their well tested immediately and found
that it was highly contaminated. Lacking other options,
the family began drinking river water to escape the
dangers of arsenic.
But the river was a great distance from their house and
the water had to be boiled and filtered before they could
use it. Through three years and one pregnancy Lutfa
carried water from the river. Then she learned about
rainwater harvesting systems from an IDE field worker and
decided to have one installed. Now she watches over the
system "like a daughter", keeping the catchment area clean
so the water stays safe to drink. Happy that the days of
arsenic poisoning and hard labor are over, she is hopeful
for her daughters' future.
|
