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A vast majority of women in southwestern Bangladesh have been bearing the brunt of reproductive health problems due to continuous exposure to saline water, according to the latest survey.
Terming that every woman was found to suffer from different health problems due to such reasons, the study conducted by Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), also finds that nearly 64 per cent of women in Mongla and 54 per cent in Shyamnagar are facing reproductive health problems.
As the study revealed, many women in those areas have lost their uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
The study was released at a seminar titled “Climate Injustice Vs Gender Justice: Why Should this Matter?” held at a city hotel in the capital on Thursday.
The event was organised by the CPRD with the support from Brot für die Welt, Diakonia and HEKS/EPER.
Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, the National Human Rights Commission Chairman, spoke at the event as the chief guest with Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of CPRD, in the chair.
Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manuser Jonno Foundation (MJF), Prasenjit Chakma, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh and Dr. Sabina Faiz Rashid, Dean and Professor of BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health were present as special guests in the seminar.
Other discussants at the event were Dilruba Haider, Programme Specialist, UN Women, Mahfuza Akter Mala, GBV Expert, Khodeja Sultana Lopa, Country Director Diakonia,Gawher Nayeem Wahra, Member secretary, DF, Shirin Lira from Embassy of Switzerland were present.
The research findings were presented jointly by Md. Akib Jabed, Project Coordinator of CPRD and Naznin Sultana, Research and Advocacy Officer of CPRD.
The research findings carried out by CPRD depict the degree of women’s vulnerability to climate change in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh.
The study also reveals that the scarcity of fresh water has been set to an acute level in the southwest coastal region.
To cope with the scarcity and meet daily demands for household consumptions, women are likely to travel distant places and faces a wide range of social problems such as abusive behavior of neighbours (57.8 per cent in Mongla, 76 per cent in Shyamnagar), eve-teasing (10 per cent in both areas), and physical injury (nearly 70 per cent in both area).
Speaking at the function, Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed highlighted the significance of the study conducted by CPRD as it is often difficult for the layman to perceive the secondary and tertiary impacts on vulnerable women groups.
This study also addresses the core concerns of climate change impact and how the implications increase the risks to each and every phase of women's life.
Md Shamsuddoha stated that climate change's implications on the lives and livelihoods of the people are enormous and multidimensional.
The degree of an individual's vulnerability to a disaster is a set of gender, race, caste, ethnicity, geographical location and financial solvency to recover, he added.