When water hides a hidden threat: The marks of arsenic poisoning in Nepal, plus hope for new ‘change-makers’

Dr Maharjan noted that awareness of the problem is increasing. The younger era will be “change-makers”, this individual added.

“Students are very important. They are the change-makers … If we teach learners about arsenic, regarding water quality, the importance of safe drinking water, they take messages home to their family, and they’ll share with the parents along with other family members, ” this individual said.

“From that family, this goes to the neighbour’s house. And so it will spread in the community. ”

Nevertheless , not everybody is convinced of how serious the thing is.

“When arsenic is dissolved in water, it has no color, no odor, no odour, simply no taste, nothing. It is very difficult to convince them … People might ask that we are drinking from our (place) where our grandparents drank. And absolutely nothing happened to them, ” explained Dr Maharjan.

“In any kind of community, if some people are found with signs and symptoms, then it becomes easier for us (to explain the situation). In the event that there are no individuals (who suffer from arsenicosis), then it’s hard, they don’t believe it. ”

Ms  Samjhana Chaudhary, who will be deputy mayor of Ramgram, one of the cities in Nawalparasi,   said that she plans to raise the issue at the national level, set up more programmes at a local level in order to “mitigate” the issue along with request for foreign help.

Meanwhile, the issue remains a complicated one.  

Ms Chaudhary noted that some  can not afford water filter systems, and continue to depend on hand pumps in order to draw water through dug wells.

“The economic problem of the people listed below are mostly from poor backgrounds, they can not afford the filter for his or her homes, ” the girl noted.

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