6.0 INTRODUCTION

Both health and environment are two inseparable parts of human society. But, health

and environment are two different terminologies. The change of one can affect the

other.

Health refers to the general condition of the mind or body, which indicates to

soundness and vigor, soundness of body and mind freedom of diseases or ailment.

During the last few decades, it becomes clear that the right of the health care is far

from the reality. Inadequate funding, inefficiency and corruption are the main

problems in our health sector. The district health care centers are generally

overcrowded, not closer to home and medicine cost is high. As a result poor people

do not get the proper services from the Govt. health care centers. Very few of them

can able themselves to get proper medication from private sources because they can

effort. Some of them go to abroad to get the best health care facilities.

Environment is the aggregate of surround things, conditions, or influences especially

as affecting the existence or development of someone or something. So environment

can be defined as- the sum total of all the physical and the biological components and

processes which make up the surroundings of man. The term includes biophysical

components of the natural resources such as land, water and air, including all layers of

the atmosphere, fisheries, wetlands and wildlife and the physical and biological

factors and process which support these resources.

6.1 HEALTH

6.1.1 HEALTH CONDITION OF RAJIBPUR 1 :

The health condition of the Rajibpur 1 is almost satisfactory . The people of Rajibpur

1 are health conscious. For the medical treatment the sick people goes to local

pharmacy which is situated in the Rajibpur bazaar or to Govt. health care center at

Manikganj,. Almost all of the villagers use tube-well water for all of their purposes.

Almost all of the villagers completed vaccination of their children. . Almost all of

the villagers are aware of family planning.

6.1.2 OBJECTIVE:1. Define the idea of the villagers about their health conditions.

2. Identify different health problems of the villagers.

3. To identify the health care facilities offered in the village.

4. The name of the common diseases in the area.

5. Identify the lacking of the health care facilities.

6. To reflect the state of health, immunization and medical facilities available in

the village.

6.1.3 PROCEDURE:To collect the data from the villagers of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village we used PRA

method. We also used a structural questionnaire that is provided by the LFE authority

of IUB.

6.1.4 IMMUNIZATION:

The Expanded Program on Immunization follows the international guidelines

recommended by the World Health Organization. The guidelines recommend that all

children receive four doses of polio vaccine, three doses of DPT vaccine for the

prevention of diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus and a vaccination against

measles. WHO recommends that children receive all of these vaccines before their

first birthday and that the vaccinations be recorded on a health card given to the

parents.

Table H –1: Distribution of the respondents by their Immunization status

Name of Diseases Yes

No. %

Polio 25 100%

Diphtheria 20 80%

Whooping Cough 20 80%

Measles 20 80%

Tetanus 20 80%

Picture: Vaccination Card

Analysis:

We surveyed 25 households of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village. We consider the age

group was form 0 to 17. We considered this age group because vaccination program

started from mid 1980. From the above table we can find out that 100% of children

are Polio vaccinated. If we consider the age group from 0 to 7 we find out that 100%

children have taken this vaccine. This became possible because Govt. of Bangladesh

started “Tika Dibash” especially for Polio from 1997. Their target was to remove

Polio within 2000. Because of lots of campaign parents were aware to take their

children to “Tika Kendra”. This vaccine is given orally so that the children can take it

easily. In case of Diphtheria and Whooping cough vaccination rate is satisfactory

(80%). This rate is satisfactory because people are aware about these diseases. The

average Immunization rate of Rajibpur 1 is 84% . So we can conclude that Govt.

program is successful in this area.

6.1.5 FAMILY PLANNING:

AWARE-OFF NOT AWARE-OFF80% 20%

Analysis:

Almost all of the people of Rajibpur 1 are aware of family planning, but very few of

them use birth-control materials like-condoms, pills etc. The people of Rajibpur 1

dislike to purchase these type of unsought products.

6.1.6 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS BY THEIR PREVALENCE OF DISEASE

In medical anthropology there is a useful distinction between disease and illness.

Disease means bodily disfunction, while illness means individual experience of

disease. In our surveyed area of Rajibpur 1 in Manikganj, we have found that most

of the respondents are aware of diseases. Because of unsatisfactory financial condition

they usually ignore small kind of diseases. The following table will show the name of

the diseases villagers are suffered by:

Table H-2: Distributions of the Respondents by their prevalence of diseases

Prevalence of diseases Number Percentage

Fever 24 96%

Gastric 23 92%

Diarrhea 16 64%

Cough 15 60%

Jaundice 12 48%

Acne 8 32%

Pneumonia 3 12%

Heart disease 3 12%

Cholera 2 8%

Ophthalmia 1 4%

Analysis:

We surveyed 25 households of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village. From the above table

we can find out that most of the respondents (96%) suffered from fever. And another

concerning thing for the villagers is that most of them suffer from gastric. It is

because the farmers are using a huge amount of pesticides and insecticides in the

vegetable and crop field which is consumed by the villagers and it results gastric to

most of the people. Some respondents suffer from Diarrhea, cough, Jaundice. A larger

number of respondents (32%) suffered by other kind of diseases like Skin disease,

12% of the villagers are suffered by pneumonia and heart disease. A very few of the

villagers are suffered by cholera and Ophthalmia. We found that the villagers usually

go to Govt. health care center in case of major health problem like diarrhea, heart

disease etc. The villagers go to local pharmacy which is situated at the Rajibpur

village for diseases like fever, cough etc.

6.1.7 TYPES OF HEALTH CARE CENTER RESPONDENTS USUALLY VISIT

The following table will show the village people’s attitude towards various kinds of

treatment facilities they get:

Table H – 3: Distribution of the Respondents according to the type of health care

center they visit when they suffer from diseases

Place of treatment Number Percentage Public health care center in

Manikganj

3 12%

Local public health worker --- ---

Local NGO health worker --- ---

Local pharmacy 23 92%

Local priest (hujur) 5 20%

Homeopath 1 4%

Analysis:

We surveyed 25 households of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village. From the above table

and the pie chart we find out that, 92% of the villagers go to the local pharmacy, when

they suffer from diseases. They think that it will be enough for them to cure. People

usually do not go to the Govt. health care center. The doctors who are working in

Govt. health care center are more interested to work in different private clinics rather

than work in Govt. health care center. The villagers of Rajibpur 1 goes to local

pharmacy which is situated at the Rajibpur village for treatment and medicine. 20% of

the villagers go to hujur when they suffer from diseases like fever, ‘bish betha’ etc.

6.1.8 PROBLEMS RELATED TO GOVT. HEALTH CARE SERVICES:

Distribution of the Respondents according to the problems related to the Government

Health care service.

Table H-4: Problems related to Govt. Health Care Services:

Problem No. %

Not close to home 22 88%

Transport are not available 1 4%

Timing of the clinic is not suitable 5 20%

Staff/services are not good 15 60%

Facility is not clean 5 20%

Waiting hours are too long 11 44%

Medicine are not available 11 52%

Medicine cost is high 13 52%

Offers no Privacy 1 4%

Others 0 0%

Analysis:

We surveyed 25 households of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village. From the above table

and figure we found, which data are collected by the people of Rajibpur 1 that the

main problems they face which is related to the Govt. health care services are not

closer to the home (88%), transport facilities are not available (4%), staff/ services are

not good (60%), Facility is not clean (20%), and waiting hours are too long (44%).

Others problems, which the people faces that are medicine are not available (52%),

medicine cost is high (52%), timing of the clinic is not suitable (20%), and offers no

privacy (4%). They face others problems also which are not that much serious. From

the above information we said that, the people of the Rajibpur 1 face lots of problem

in health care facilities. So Govt. has to take care about it.

6.1.9 FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS:

Beyond questionnaire survey we also do some qualitative survey in our selected

Rajibpur 1. We mention these findings and implications as bellows:

1. Almost all of the villagers completed polio and other vaccination of their

childrens because they are conscious about their children’s health.

2. Most of the villagers are aware-off family planning, but few of them use birth-

control materials.

3. Almost all of the villagers use ring slab for sanitation. Only 2 households use

ring-less latrine ( Slab is over the latrine) because they don’t have enough

money. So most of the time it is open and the flies carry the germs that are

harmful to health.

4. Although the people of this village are health conscious but they are not

interested to go to the health care center because they try to avoid small

diseases.

5. Though the medicine cost is high the villagers prefer local pharmacy rather

than Govt. health care center because they want better medical treatment.

6.2 ENVIRONMENT

6.2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF RAJIBPUR 1:

The environmental condition of the Rajibpur 1 is also satisfactory. People of Rajibpur

1 are aware about their environmental situation. Most of the people use Ring Slab

toilets. Although they are using firewood for cooking purpose but they know that

burning firewood is bad for the environment. They know that this burning of wood is

affecting their health but they are using such in absence of Gas. The environmental

condition is very good with a huge amount of trees and herbs. And the tree plantation

program is getting momentum here with the assistance of NGO’s. Most of the houses

are having good number of fruit producing trees. So, it is identical that the peoples of

this village are quite environment conscious.

6.2.2 OBJECTIVE:

To get the real picture of the present environmental condition of the village, like

source of water supply, toilet facilities, and kind of fuel they used.

6.2.3 PROCEDURE:

To collect the from the villagers of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village we used PRA

method. We also used a structural questionnaire that is provided by the LFE authority

of IUB.

6.2.4 USES OF WATER FROM DIFFERENT SOURCE:

Table E-1: Distribution of respondents by the type of water sources they use for

different purposes.

Purposes Sources

Piped

Water

Tube-Well Well

Water

Pond Others

(River)

No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %

Drinking 25 100%

Bathing 22 88% 3 12%

Washing 25 100%

Cooking 25 100%

Picture: Tube well

Analysis:

We surveyed 25 households of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village. We found that 100% of

the household use tube well water for all of their purposes except bathing, which is a

very good sign for country like Bangladesh. As the Dhaleshari river flows besides the

village some villagers go their for bathing. None of the household use piped water,

well water, pond water.

6.2.5 TYPES OF TOILET FACILITIES AND EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT:

Table E-2:Distribution of the respondents by the type of Toilet facilities they use.

Type No. %

Ring slab/Pit latrine 22 88%

Septic tank 1 4%

Hanging Latrine

Pit Latrine 2 8%

Picture: Ring Slab Picture: Septic Tank Picture: Pit Latrine

Analysis:

We surveyed 25 households of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village. From the above table it

is clear that 88% of them use ring slab and 8% of them use Pit Latrine. Which is a

good sign reflecting the health consciousness of the poor people.

6.2.6 EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT BY DIFFERENT TYPE OF COOKING

PLACE:

Table E-3: Distribution of respondents by there cooking places

Cooking Place No. %

In the Kitchen 12 48%

Inside the living room 3 12%

Outside the room 10 40%

Pic: Cooking inside the house Pic: Cooking outside the house

Analysis:

We surveyed 25 households of Rajibpur 1 of Rajibpur village. The health

awareness of the village people is again clearly visible from the above table as 48% of

the households cook in the kitchen, 40% of the households cook outside the room, and

only 12% of the households cook inside the living room, which is harmful for the

environment of the living room.

6.2.7 EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT PLACE OF DUMPING WASTE:

Table E-4:Distribution of respondents by their place of dumping waste

Places No. %

In a hole beside the house 17 68%

In a nearby ditch 6 24%

In a specific place 2 8%

No specific place

Analysis:

Disposal of house holds waste is a very important activity for the betterment of

environment. We surveyed 25 households of Rajibpur 1 of RAjibpur village. The

above table clearly reflects that 68% of households use a hole to dump waste, 24% of

households use nearby ditch. This pollutes water. They should deposit wastes in a

fixed space and cover it. More over 8% people throw out their wastes in a specific

place.

6.2.8 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS BY THE TYPE OF FUEL THEY USE.

Table E-5: Distribution of the respondents by the type of fuel they use.

Fuel type Fuel use Health effect Environment effect

Kerosene

Fire wood 25 14 8

Leaves and twigs 6 4 3

Gas

Cow Dung 2 0 0

Straw 7 2 3

Others ( Bio Gas) 1 0 0

Picture: Bio gas Plant Pic: Cooking by Bio Gas

Analysis:

From our survey we found out that most of the people use firewood, 24% leaves and

twigs, 8% of the people use cow dung and 28% of the people use straw for cooking

purpose. And one amazing thing is that in Rajibpur 1 we have found a bio gas plant

which is the only one in the whole village. Only 50% of the respondents are aware of

the health effects of using cow dung, firewood, straw and leaves and twigs etc. The

other 50% of the respondents are not educated enough to figure out health effect

although they are suffering. The major impact on health we have found is eyes

irritation. Beside that only 35% of the respondents are aware about environmental

impact of using these types of fuel. The major impact they identified is air pollution

6.2.9 FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS:

1. Most of the villagers use tube-well water for all of their purposes.

2. We found that 88% people are using ring slab which is a good sign for the

environment. On the other hand two households are using ring less ( Slab is

over the latrine, which spreads many diseases. So they polluted the

environment.

3. We found that 68% households deposit their waste in a hole beside the house.

This is a very positive impression for the betterment of environment.

4. The villagers mainly use firewood, leaves and twigs, straws, cow dung etc. for

their cooking purpose. Tress are cut so frequently and leaves are also taken

away. When we look through the type of fuel they use almost all villagers are

using firewood for their cooking purpose.

5. People are now aware of the environmental pollution. We have got the proof

when we have talked with the village people and saw the bio gas plant.