Nationwide survey launched on heavy metal levels in blood
The presence of heavy metals including lead has a serious harmful effect on the health of children. It will be possible to prevent infant mortality through its survey, according to speakers
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will collect data on levels of heavy metals including lead and micronutrients in blood and anaemia through a household survey for the first time in Bangladesh.
The data will be collected under the "Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS): Round 7 (2024-2025)" programme, which was inaugurated yesterday. For the past three decades, similar surveys have been conducted in collaboration with Unicef.
The presence of heavy metals including lead has a serious harmful effect on the health of children. It will be possible to prevent infant mortality through its survey, according to speakers at the inauguration event.
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MICS is a household survey designed to collect essential data on children and women. It serves as a vital source of information for authorities, aiding in the development of policies and plans.
Earlier, the 2019 MICS surveyed 64,000 households and generated 144 indicators for children and women.
Inaugurating the programme, State Minister for Planning Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker said the MICS will provide accurate information about the needs of children and underprivileged women in the country.
"This survey will allow us to track our progress on several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators. For the indicators where we are lagging, we can develop and implement effective plans," he added.
Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative to Bangladesh, said the survey will make an important contribution to protecting the needs and rights of every child.
"The information obtained from this survey will shed light on the challenges faced by many children and women in Bangladesh and will enable us to implement timely solutions for these issues," he added.
The survey will be conducted in the whole country including Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporation areas. The information of Rohingya refugees will also be collected through this survey and separate reports will be prepared.
The survey will have a sample size of approximately 70,000, with financing provided by both UNICEF and the government.
