INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Shadows dance across large, concrete chambers while the sound of dripping water echoes in the distance
This water treatment plant was once a beacon of hope for the community; today the site lies abandoned, the only sign of life the daily
activity of its resident caretaker, Sayed Ahmed.Commissioned by the local government division for rural development to recycle contaminated
water, the plant on the outskirts of the city of Khulna was designed to supply fresh water to 5,000 people
When construction began in 2005, Ahmed was offered employment as a security guard.View image in fullscreenAhmed works as a security guard at
Only Ahmed remained; he has been guarding the derelict site for nearly two decades.The site has since been handed over to Khulna City
Corporation which did not respond to requests for comment.As their children grew up and moved out, Ahmed and his wife, Amena Khatun, enjoyed
spending their afternoons down by the river, watching the world go by
But six months ago, their quiet life was turned upside down.After her hands and feet became swollen, Khatun was diagnosed with chronic
central nervous system were already severely affected.Although the 65-year-old already had high blood pressure and showed symptoms of
fatigue, achy muscles and shortness of breath, neither she nor her doctor had been concerned about her kidney health
associated with various health risks, including hypertension, respiratory problems and pre-eclampsia, but its effect on kidney health
remains relatively unknown.Q-AWhy is the world's freshwater getting saltier?ShowFreshwater is essential for drinking, irrigation and healthy
As sea levels rise, freshwater systems around the world are increasingly being contaminated with saline water, gradually contaminating the
soil, and wreaking havoc on lands, lives and livelihoods.These salts can be dissipated by rainfall, but climate breakdown is increasing the
frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including droughts and heatwaves
This leads to more intensive use of groundwater for drinking and irrigation, which further depletes freshwater sources and allows even more
salt to leach into the soil.The climate crisis drives salinisation in several ways
Ocean temperatures are rising, and warmer water takes up more space
Ice sheets and glaciers are melting and flowing into the oceans
Rising water salinity is already influencing agricultural production and internal migration, particularly in low-lying coastal areas.Average
sea levels have risen by more than 8 inches (20cm) since 1880, with about three of those inches gained in the last 25 years
process is already pushing salty water onshore along coastlines, from Bangladesh to the Mississippi delta, and will continue to affect more
regions across the globe as the threat of climate breakdown increases.Thank you for your feedback.Chronic kidney disease is a major public
health issue worldwide but studies suggest a higher prevalence (22%) among Bangladeshis than the global average (10%)
third-largest city, Khulna, on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers, was once the economic heartland of the south-western region,
known for its jute mills, shipyards and thriving fishing industry
resulting in a shortage of clean and safe water
remaining freshwater repositories.View image in fullscreenThe Rupsha River
there is no choice but to continue using contaminated water
salinity on kidney health in coastal areas of south-western Bangladesh, including Khulna
Measuring urinary sodium and total protein in the urine samples of 1,185 trial participants from 532 households, as well as their salt
intake from drinking water sources, Naser found that 37% had mild proteinuria (elevated levels of protein in their urine) while 20% had
More recently, Naser conducted a further study comparing the effects of extreme heat on kidney health between men and women in Bangladesh
studies have reported that men globally are particularly at high risk of developing kidney disease since a large number involved in outdoor
of kidney functionNew research on river water salinity in coastal Bangladesh looked into records spanning the past three decades from a
network of 86 monitoring stations, the largest dataset analysed to date, and found that the increasing salinisation of freshwater resources
in the region is putting the livelihoods and health of local populations under greater threat.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to
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Khulna was particularly affected, with extreme heat resulting in a rise in hospital admissions, forcing patients to occupy corridors and
for them to drink and rehydrate
through her medical notes, trying to make sense of her situation
The food her daughter brought remains untouched on the bedside table among scattered papers and pills.View image in fullscreenThe medication
Khatun has to take for her CKD
She also has to go for dialysis up to three times a weekSince her diagnosis, her health has deteriorated
She was told she needed to start dialysis immediately, and continue up to three times a week
To avoid the long waiting list at the local government hospital she went to a private clinic where each dialysis session costs 5,000 taka
The family have now used up all their savings and have had to take out a loan
To cover the additional costs of medication, Khatun has been skipping dialysis sessions.Dialysis capacity across health facilities in
Bangladesh remains inadequate to meet the current and projected needs of CKD patients, according to research.As the evening draws to a
close, Ahmed walks Khatun to the riverbank, where they watch the sun set over the river
Behind them looms the forlorn structure of an abandoned water plant that once showed promise but now tells a story of neglect.Although the
Bangladesh government and local partners have introduced initiatives to improve access to safe drinking water in south-western Bangladesh,
A deeper understanding of the links between heat, water salinity and kidney health can enable timely interventions and better health
This article first appeared/also appeared in theguardian.com
