The training course on “Minimizing arsenic contamination in living water and instructing the diagnosis of chronic arsenic contamination” which was hold by General Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment Health, Ministry of Health, United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) in Vietnam, Preventive Medicine Center in Ha Nam province from June 18th to 20th in Red River Delta provinces including Ha Nam, Hanoi, Ha Tay, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Vinh Phuc and Hai Duong. This is a part of activities under the Program on minimizing Arsenic levels in living water in Red River Delta provinces supported by UNICEF.
According to surveys, water sources taken from drilled wells in Ha Nam province contain very high arsenic concentration (70-80% of drilled well water contains arsenic level exceeding the permiited level by the Ministry of Health). Especially, a random test survey conducted on over 1,930 drilled wells in Hoa Hau Commune, Vinh Tru Township, Ly Nhan District and Bo De Commune, Binh Luc District by professionals in the past time shows that arsenic levels in underground water in the localities is found popular, arsenic levels in sampling water of 94% of surveyed wells exeeds the applicable standards.
In the training course, learners who are representatives of Preventive Medicine Centers in Red River Delta provinces had opportunities to share, discuss and supply information about the following main contents:
+ Impacts of arsenic contaminiation in living water on health and arsenic-polluted water sources in the world and Vietnam.
+ Vietnam’s action plan and model for minimizing arsenic levels applied in Ha Nam
+ Instructing the diagnosis, supervision and prevention of arsenic contamination due to using arsenic-contaminated water sources.
+ Instructing direct examination for arsenic-infected patients
Research on arsenic contamination situation in Vietnam shows that arsenic contamination level in underground water has reached the alarming rate in Red River Delta and Mekong River Delta. Thus, learners recognize that it is necessary to strengthen additional measures to minimizing impacts of arsenic contamination on community health through communication activities on minimizing arsenic levels, setting up quality control models for drinking and running water for the community, etc.
Phan Thanh Sơn