Protected by copyright laws. You must reference Patricia Egenton as author of work. Violations are punishable by law.

1. Arsenic in the Groundwater of the Red River Delta Vietnam Patricia Egenton RN BSN CEN CCRN June 26, 2009

3. Prior to this initiative they had been getting ill from drinking surface water

4. As the years went on people began to develop diseases and cancers associated with arsenic exposure

5. The tubewells were the source

7. Densely populated

8. River provides transport of goods in and out of Vietnam and China; polluting the river

9. Half the country’s rice crops are grown here

11. The darker red shades show dense areas of population. The Red River Delta is the most populated area in the north.

13. Even with a public health system many go uninsured if they are above the poverty level but cannot afford private coverage

14. If such a dense population continues to be exposed, more problems will surface as the young people ageTHE FOLLOWING SLIDE SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF HEALTH COVERAGE IN VIETNAM

15. The Health Care Plans in Vietnam Source: Vietnam Social Security 2007

16. Economic Success at Risk Vietnam’s largest exports crude oil textiles rice coffee 2. Poverty rates 1998 = 37% 2006 = 16% WOW

18. Sick human resources will drain health care system and cripple economic growth

19. Infants, toddlers and small children are at higher risks due to exponential growth periods

20. If the children there today are going to enjoy the same economic successes, opportunities and growth, they are going to need to be healthy

23. However, a lot of attention and resources have been focused on Bangladesh where the arsenic levels are higher

24. The WHO needs to be equitable with resources, since the UN installed them

25. Learn from successes and failures in Bangladeshare people using the filtered water? are people forced to walk farther to the pumps fitted with the filters? cost – are they cost efficient? education – measure impact? funding – private and public options to supplement The WHO’s initiative? replacing used filters ? when? who is tracking? constant measuring of arsenic levels is necessary constant measuring of arsenic exposure in populations is necessary to determine effectiveness

30. Take advantage of the more educated parent and educate the importance of continuing to protect toddlers and young children against arsenic exposure

32. initiate school programs