The Role of Anthropology: Part IV

While many research initiatives have focused on potential methods to curb the spread of arsenicosis, there have been only a few promising long-term solutions (Anstiss et al., 2001). Many scholars believe that promoting the use of safe community wells would be the most sustainable initiative. Furthermore, because a well’s operation is of community concern, a given population will unite in supporting arsenic mitigation efforts. Such projects have had more long-lasting success than initiatives to make arsenic-contaminated or pathogen-containing water potable—these treatment operations are costly and time-consuming, and only occasionally receive the full attention and support of an affected community (Jakariya et al., 2005).

Some of the interventions piloted by non-governmental development organizations have shown that the mere presence of a water treatment plant in a village serves to mobilize a community (Hadi, 2003; Hoque et al., 2004). This causes arsenicosis to be brought to the forefront of public attention—as the topic becomes familiar, and a point of discussion, the popular desire for safe water sources is increased. Moreover, individuals are more willing to become involved in water-testing and monitoring efforts (Jakariya et al., 2005). Such community mobilization has been brought about by the work of NGO-affiliated community health educators, who travel to each household in a village and instruct residents about the dangers, symptoms, and safety measures associated with arsenicosis.

Community involvement would seem to be widely effective, thus it is of critical significance to continually seek ways to actively engage affected and threatened communities while designing arsenic mitigation programs. This matter is complicated by the findings of some studies. Based on the extent of willingness to pay a portion of household income for safe water, some researchers have concluded that rural inhabitants of Bangladesh place a low value on safe water (Ahmad, Goldar, & Misra, 2005). A different exploratory approach might employ the participatory action (PAR) model, such that community members would have more than a passive role in securing safe water. This model emphasizes the production of knowledge to foster future action, taking local opinions and concerns into consideration (Patten, Mitton, & Donaldson, 2006). This model has been successfully employed in numerous disciplines to accomplish a wide variety of ends, yet has not yet been fully utilized within the context of Bangladesh’s groundwater contamination.

Additionally, future studies might consider utilizing the ecohealth system. The ecohealth system integrates ecological and health concepts to promote responsible stewardship of the environment, while consequently fostering changes in local health conditions (Yacoob, Hetzler, & Langer, 2004). Pilot programs in Bangladesh have shown this to be a promising technique for involving the community by means of educating and providing the needed resources for village-based operation and management of safe-water utilities (Yacoob et al., 2004).


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