BSMMU, Pure Earth join hands to prevent lead poisoning in children
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Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Pure Earth on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in light of the severe impact of lead exposure on child and maternal health and the nation's well-being.
The agreement was signed at the conference room of BSMMU to collaboratively combat this public health issue, according to a media release.
Bangladesh is the fourth most lead pollution-impacted country in the world. About 36 million children, that is 60 per cent of children in Bangladesh are poisoned by lead with an average blood lead level of 6.8 μg/dL.
A recent World Bank study shows that children in Bangladesh have lost 20 million Intelligence quotient (IQ) points causing a high economic cost of US$10,897 million, which equals 3.6 per cent of the country’s GDP.
In Bangladesh, the major sources of lead exposure include used-lead acid battery recycling in informal settings, leaded paint, aluminum cookware, ceramic food ware, spices, toys, cosmetics, food, electronic waste, fertilisers, and cultured fish feed.
The MoU signing ceremony was chaired by the Vice Chancellor of BSMMU, Prof Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed; and was signed by Pure Earth’s Bangladesh Country Director Dr Mahfuzar Rahman and Dean of Preventive and Social Medicine, BSMMU, Prof Dr Md Atiqul Haque.