January 14, 2025

The Telegraph: An invisible threat lurking in the water is slowly destroying these women’s lives

Increased levels of a simple chemical is having disastrous health effects for those living in Bangladesh’s sprawling river deltas. Learn how BRAC is assisting women in combating the advancement of salt water.

Women in fishing communities have to travel 30-40 km by vans, autorickshaw, and trawlers to access medical attention.

This was originally published in The Telegraph. Below is an excerpt from the article.

The impact of salinity on women’s health in Bangladesh is driven by climate change and pollution and is harming reproductive health in coastal Bangladesh. Women in these regions face rising risks of miscarriage, preterm births, and other complications, as salt intrusion contaminates drinking water. The article highlights the urgent need for solutions to protect vulnerable populations.

BRAC is working to mitigate these challenges by providing innovative solutions like rainwater harvesting tanks and small-scale desalination plants. These tanks, now a common sight in coastal Bangladesh, offer safe drinking water during the rainy season. To complement this, BRAC recently installed a desalination plant near Mongla, which processes 2,500 liters of water daily—enough for around 100 local families. “Rainwater will cover people for only a small proportion of the year,” says BRAC spokesperson Ayan Soofi, “so the desalination plant gives them a back-up option.”

Read the full article online to learn more about these critical issues and BRAC’s response.