Heartiest greetings from CHDS,  Bangladesh. Here, we would like to introduce "Community  Health Development Society (CHDS)", a community based non Government development organization in Bangladesh working with the distressed and powerless people with  a package of programme for their socio-economic  emancipation.   It is to be noted that CHDS is registered  with the Directorate of Social Services and thereafter with NGO Affairs Bureau  under Foreign Donation (Voluntary activities), Regulation rules, 1978 with the  government of Bangladesh.

As the founder and executive director of CHDS I take this opportunity to introduce  myself as Dr. Didarul Ahsan, a dermatologist and venereologist  in Bangladesh.   I had been working as a general physician in  the Middle East for about ten years and later  & venereology from the University of Vienna,  Austria. Amongst my other activities, I regularly  write articles in daily news Papers/journals, on arsenic mitigation, AIDS, S.T.D  and other skin diseases. It would be my privilege to mention you that I have  published over 400 medical articles in different Newspapers and magazines in  Bangladesh.   I also frequently participate in local and  satellite TV broadcasting channels to raise public awareness regarding these  diseases. In the next few statements I have tried to  build up a structure of our organisation, our motto of working and my objective of writing this letter to you.  Please note the activities of CHDS as  follows,    On-going activities of CHDS  are:
1.  Group formation, raising savings fund and social awareness building.
2.  Human and skills development training for group  members and staff.
3.  Revolving micro-credit support against economic activities.
4.  Social forestry and environmental  up-gradation.
5.  Workshop. Seminar and annual  get-together.
6.  Mother and child health care clinic against common diseases
7.  &  mitigation activities.
8.  Motivational work on agricultural technology transfer for crops diversification and intensification.
9.  Motivational work on health, nutrition, family  planning, STD/AIDS and family welfare.
A few years since we became concerned with  the alarming situation of Arsenic problem in Bangladesh, and started working with a few government projects. These projects were based on arsenic training,  screening and mitigation programs.   Please note our working database on  Arsenic program  as follows.  Our organization CHDS had been awarded with a  contract from a Govt. agency in an arsenic mitigation program under "Bangladesh  arsenic mitigation water supply project" in Feb/2001, financed by World Bank.  This is a program of its kind is the first time in the country. We have  successfully completed the project recently in collaboration with a Bangladesh  government agency. This program is being financed by the world bank. Our work  scope included, training and screening program in "Debhata" sub-district, under  Shatkira district, a location situated in the south western part of the  country.   According to our findings, out of 9270 number  of tube wells, the drinking water of some 6,666 tube wells were found  contaminated with arsenic.   Remaining only 2008 number of tube wells were  found usable for drinking water with an arsenic content below 0.05  microgram/litter of water.   Furthermore, as per our spot assessment, we  recorded a total of 65 arsenic affected patients in the area and the figures are  anticipated to rise in the near future. As for our findings we find the  situation quite alarming where we believe immediate measures are to be  taken.   After successful completion of the  aforementioned project, we have again been awarded with a similar contract as  above for arsenic training, screening and mitigation program for a second  sub-district named "Digholia" under Khulna district under an extended program by  the same agency. We have started our work, one and a half months since, and hope  to finish within a period of a month. We feel at this stage that, a very big task  lies ahead of our country to face arsenic problem. We would need  financial/technical and other supports from our overseas well wishers, as we  have our limitations and constrains in
resources to face this  problem.

Show us the  guideliness on whom to contact and how to contact such persons/agencies/universities/organizations who would like to work with us.

Looking forward to hear from you, please.