New WHO publication on Arsenicosis Detection for field-level health workers

Building on the success of the WHO Technical Publication “A Field Guide for Detection, Management and Surveillance of Arsenicosis Cases”, a simplified version has now been published in the Bangla language for training and as a ready reference for nurses, health assistants and other grass-roots health workers.  The aim is to considerably increase capacity at field level to enable the early detection of Arsenicosis patients.  The simplified guide includes information on early symptoms including photographs of common skin lesions and a flowchart to facilitate basic diagnosis.

Although Arsenicosis patients are found equally among men and women, there is a scarcity of female doctors in Bangladesh and many women are reluctant to consult a male physician for examination of skin lesions.  In contrast, the mostly female nurses have ready access to female patients and it is expected that the simplified guide will improve gender equality with regard to early Arsenicosis detection.  The Directorate General of Health Services has already initiated an extensive training programme on Arsenicosis for the field-level health workforce and will disseminate the simplified guide nationwide.