A clinic has been establishd in Baruapara. KBP are working in many ways to improve and run the clinic...
- We have paid half the cost of installing tube wells and toilets.
- We have improved general cleanliness at the clinic.
- We are able to provide medical treatment including general health care, eye check ups and vitimin supplement distribution.
- We have supplied basic school materials including non-political books.
Baruapara Clinic
KBP helps Baruapara with safe water
By Sunil K. Barua
Baruapara is a small urban village with nearly 3000 people squeezed in a small space. Located close to an industrial area, many low income women (including tenants) live here due to the cheap and safe accommodation. KBP members first visited Chandgaon Baruapara in the year 2000, on the way back from Baishari. The intention was to understand the living conditions of the people here. What they saw moved them. Most of the women are garment factory workers earning between Tk 1200'00 to Tk 2000'00 (equivalent to 2400yen to 4000yen) a month which is barely enough to live from hand to mouth. Most tenants are from marginal families. In poor sanitation and with scarce water systems, all used to bathe in pond water falling victim to water borne diseases. In the following months, as a first step, KBP funded the installation of 30 low cost water sealed latrines. This improved the sanitation situation a lot. Later, KBP decided to improve the water avaiability situation here.
Fewer reports of such diseases are being reported from Baruapara. This certainly is a result of safe water availability
Firstly, one deep-set tube well was installed here at a cost of Tk12,000,00. KBP bore the total cost of the installation. Subsequentially a policy was developed to install tube wells under a partnership programme. The beneficiary would bear half the installation cost. Under this system many nearby families benefit. Ten more tube wells have been installed between December 2004 and April 2005. One well costs around Tk 15,000,00 (equivalent to 30,000yen) including instllation. The impact of the wells is tremendous. The conditions have improved considerably for local families. Fewer reports of such diseases are being reported from Baruapara. This is certainly a result of safe water availability. Though Bangladeh is a rivine country use of water from surface sources is not that developed. In most cases ground water is the main source therefore there is much pressure on this. With every one using ground water including industry, public health organizations, etc. The demand on ground water is too much. However, the public health organization's arragements are also not adequate. So many residents of Baruapara are dependent on ground water and self-made arrangements. The ground water table is much deeper than normal and deep set wells are neccessary. KBP has been doing a great job and needs to continue this programme for some time to complete the mission here.