Trivialising the melamine scare
Amonth has passed since we were caught up in melamine scare triggered by detection of the industrial toxic element in Chinese powder milk which took a toll of child lives with 54,000 children fallen sick in that country. What have we done all this time to screen out hazardous milk available in the local market? Virtually nothing, just waiting for authentic test results from our research centres as the milk got consumed indiscriminately with damage being done to public health, especially child health -- insidiously. Melamine deposits in the kidney hinders its functioning apart from forming stones in the bladder.
Following newspaper reports nearly a month ago, the BSTI being handicapped by poor laboratory facilities, sent some 46 samples to Dhaka University Chemistry Department to do the testing on. The varsity department took its time to come out with its test results; only on Wednesday it conveyed to the BSTI that eight popular brands had melamine malcontent. Thereupon, the government in a press handout on Thursday advised consumers not to use the brands 'temporarily'. The Commerce Ministry has decided to have a few samples tested at the BCSIR and the Atomic Energy Commission labs. The question is why was it not done before?
It is disquieting to learn that there was no uniformity in the testing procedures or the reagents used by the DU Department of Chemistry, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and the private Plasma Plus Lab resulting in confusion over the findings. While the chemistry department found melamine in eight brands, the BSTI and the Plasma Plus detected toxic element in one brand of milk only. Now, after such a long winded detour, the authorities are contemplating sending the samples abroad for further testing, analysis and confirmation.
All this is essentially an indictment on successive governments turning a blind eye to the pressing need for adequately equipping the BSTI to be able to detect public health hazards in essential consumer items, produced or imported. The lessons learnt must not be missed on the ministry concerned, which should do everything in its power to beef the BSTI's capacity with adequate research and laboratory facilities.
The government has already wasted a good deal of time wrangling over the issue sending negative signals about trivialising a public health concern. An appropriate action plan to weed out the hazardous milk brooks no further delay.
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