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3. HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT
3.1 General
protection of the environment
There are many legislative enactments pertaining to the environment
that need to be modified and updated. In 1989, a new Ministry of Environment
and Forests was created. In May 1992, a national environmental policy was
approved and a national environmental action plan developed. In 1995, the
Bangladesh Environment Protection Ordinance was introduced. Environmental
objectives were included in the government's Fourth Five Year Plan (1990-95),
and these also find place in the Perspective Plan (1996-2010). Monitoring and
regulatory mechanisms for air pollutants mainly caused by vehicular emissions
are operational only in four major cities. A standard for per capita water
availability has yet to be set. A national monitoring system to deal with
contamination of drinking water has not yet been established. The regular collection
of solid waste is only in municipal towns but handling and disposal is
questionable. Bangladesh
has no national food safety policy. A plan of action for food safety and an
inter-ministerial committee for coordinating and monitoring food safety are
operational. The incidence of food-borne diseases is high.
With regard to housing, the key issues identified are
unplanned and unregulated urban growth, high population density, often with
poor provision for sanitation causing a high incidence of disease, and
inadequate facilities for disposal of waste, and sewage treatment and
management. In 1993, the government adopted a National Housing Policy with
provision to address the above issues. In 1991, for the first time,
protection of the environment and environmental pollution were included in
the industrial policy.
The main constraints include delay in the approval of
national policy and work plans, lack of a monitoring system for environmental
health concerns, insufficient budget, and insufficient trained manpower.
Environment - WHO/SEARO National
Environment and Health Action plans – WHO/SEARO WHO/HQ WHO/Bangladesh
3.2 Water supply
and sanitation
The availability of safe drinking water in urban areas has
increased from 44.9 percent in 1991 to 99.7 percent in 2001, and in the rural
sector from 88 percent to 96.8 percent during the same period. Over 96 percent of the rural population
use tubewell water (safe water) for drinking
purposes, but only about 16 percent use it for other domestic purposes, due
to the distance from the water source.
The proportion of the population with adequate excreta
disposal facilities has increased, from 38 percent (1991) to 98 percent
(2001) in the urban sector and from 10 percent (1991) to 92 percent (2001) in
the rural sector (BBS, Report of SVRS, June 2003).
The main constraints are the shortage of trained manpower,
limited funds, poor community awareness, and a weak information system.
Related Links Director general of Health Service Water
and sanitation - WHO/SEARO Water and sanitation – WHO/HQ Water - WHO/SEARO
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