Teachers breaking the chains of childhood lead poisoning, one classroom at a time

29 February 2024

In Mirzapur, Tangail, seventh graders at Maa Fatema School and College  are engaging in lessons  beyond traditional science classes. The classrooms, illuminated by the mid-day sun, have become a powerful setting for imparting life-saving information on ending childhood lead poisoning since the day their science teacher, Abdul Baten Munshi,  took charge of raising awareness about the silent health menace.

Baten has transformed his classroom into a gallery of knowledge, adorned with posters, banners, and charts created by the children, illustrating the adverse effects of lead poisoning. Thanks to the booklets and the intensive training workshop for teachers from different unions and villages, organized by UNICEF and the Upazila Health Complex in Tangail. The innovative methods taught during the workshop enabled him to integrate the critical issue of lead poisoning into his lessons, engaging his students and empowering them to become advocates for health and safety.

Ripple effects of lead poisoning

Bangladesh grapples with the grim reality of being fourth in the world for lead exposure-related deaths. According to reports by the Institute of Health Metrics Evaluation, UNICEF, and Pure Earth, a staggering 35 million children have high blood lead levels, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) requires serious interventions.

Lead poisoning detrimentally affects children's physical and mental development, education and learning abilities, behavior, and overall well-being. It also extends serious repercussions to adults, potentially leading to cardiovascular diseases, and triggers risks for pregnant women often leading to premature birth and miscarriage. The adverse effects of lead poisoning also impacts on the environment including losses in biodiversity, changes in community composition, decreased growth and reproductive rates in plants and animals etc. Mirzapur upazila, located about 90 kilometers north of the capital Dhaka, is a region most affected by lead poisoning and has recorded high lead counts in children’s blood samples.

However, teachers like Baten have transcended the role of a mere observer. He actively shoulders the responsibility of educating students and making them aware of the dangers of lead poisoning through school lessons using flipcharts, posters, and videos. He promotes hygiene practices and advocates for safer school environments.

“Lead poisoning can cause serious health problems. It can be caused by everyday objects like children’s toys, shiny food packaging and cosmetics, among others,” said Baten. He further added, “During the workshop we were trained according to the National Clinical Management Guideline. After the training, I learned about the sources of lead poisoning, high lead-content objects, how children are exposed to these hazards, how to avoid such situations and much more.”

Battling the silent hazard

The government of Bangladesh and UNICEF's joint endeavor played a catalyst in equipping teachers like Baten to prevent lead exposure in rural Bangladesh. Following the workshop in August 2023, where 414 health and education professionals received extensive training on disseminating critical information about lead poisoning, Baten emerged as a beacon of knowledge. His newfound expertise became a source of enlightenment for all his students, illuminating their path to knowledge and awareness about the dangers of lead poisoning and its consequences. “I knew little about the serious impacts of lead on human health. However, now I have more knowledge and share it with my students in classrooms, during daily assemblies and through different types of presentations. There are 250 students in this school, and we have been able to make most of them aware,” said Baten while reflecting on his transformation.

The impact of trained teachers like Baten goes beyond the classroom. With his concerted efforts, the wider community of Mirzapur is becoming well aware of the dangers of lead exposure and ways to mitigate the crisis. Baten's commitment is evident as he actively coaches his community on identifying lead hazards in everyday life. “I always try to talk about how lead can find its way into the human body, what objects can cause lead poisoning, and how to remain safe during family functions, social gatherings, sports, and cultural events. The people of Mirzapur now know what type of shiny objects can cause lead poisoning, which toys and cosmetics contain high lead and what precautions to take to remain safe,” said Baten confidently.

Changing the narrative

As Mirzapur witnesses a positive shift in awareness, with the once-hidden dangers of lead now exposed, it is essential to emphasize that Abdul Baten is not fighting this battle alone. UNICEF Bangladesh is supporting the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) in designing and implementing programs focused on capacity building, advocacy, and social behavior change communication activities for lead poisoning prevention and management. As part of UNICEF's comprehensive array of efforts, as of December 2023, 538 teachers across 243 schools in 4 districts, have undergone trainings, becoming ambassadors of lead poisoning prevention measures in their local schools and communities.

Through the dedicated efforts of Baten, the narrative in Mirzapur is evolving from ignorance to empowerment. Armed with knowledge to safeguard themselves against the sources of lead, the students at Maa Fatema School and College, together with the community, are marking a transformative journey, one classroom at a time.