Over the past few years UChicago Research Bangladesh (URB), icddrb, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) have been jointly implementing a project on air pollution and health impacts in their study sites. This project explores indoor air pollution and health impacts among children, women and household members. As a part of the project, the team is providing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for clean cook stoves to the local community for the next two years. These cook stoves are used for daily cooking and can have a major impact on health and save time for families.
Following this work in the community, the research team wanted to share this important information on the air pollution problem and its health impacts with community leaders, community members and other stakeholders at the field level. On 24 June 2019, Dr. S.M Munjurul Hannan Khan, Additional Secretary (Development) visited URB’s study site in Araihazar to see the project activities. Dr. Khan is the focal person on the air pollution problem for the Government of Bangladesh. He visited the study site and spoke with the community on this important issue as well as reviewing URB activities. During his visit, he gave a lecture to the community leaders, health professionals and others to make them aware of this important issue in Bangladesh. Dr. Tariqul Islam from URB chaired the seminar with the local health chief in attendance.
If you would like to learn more about the impact of LPG use on respiratory and other diseases, please visit the GEOHealth website: http://geohealth.urb-bd.org/