A Day in the Life of a Waste Worker at Hazaribagh: Free Health Camp

—————– Abdullah Al Mahmud

The Association for Community Empowerment (ACE), a non-governmental development organization, has taken a momentous stride towards promoting occupational health safety and raising awareness among waste management workers and their families in Hazaribagh, Dhaka. In an effort to improve the livelihoods of waste workers and promote environmental sustainability, ACE has collaborated with the SR Asia Foundation to implement the Integrated Management of Plastic Assortment and Contribution towards Green Economy (IMPACT-GE) project.

The IMPACT-GE project is aimed at safeguarding the urban environment in Dhaka South City Corporation by improving the plastic recycling process in an eco-friendly manner while simultaneously promoting the occupational health and safety of waste workers. This groundbreaking initiative is set to revolutionize the way the environment and waste management workers are handled in the region.

In light of the Eid al-Adha and the COVID-19 situation, ACE provided a free health check-up and consultation to over a hundred waste management workers and their family members at Rana Bakery Road in Hazaribagh. The event was held on July 3rd, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm and was conducted by Mr. Tanver Hossain, Executive Director of ACE, and Mr. Iliasur Rahman, Counsellor of Ward 14, Dhaka South City Corporation. The health camp was a significant step towards ensuring the welfare of waste workers and their families, as they are often neglected and face numerous challenges in their line of work. By providing them with access to medical advice and care, absolutely free of charge, the camp pondered to acknowledge the workers that their contributions to society are valued and appreciated.

The partnership between ACE and the SR Asia Foundation for the IMPACT-GE project is a monumental milestone in promoting environmental sustainability while improving the livelihoods of the waste workers. The project’s main focus is to introduce eco-friendly practices in the plastic recycling process, which will have a far-reaching impact on the urban environment in the regular aura of Dhaka South City Corporation.

In conclusion, the Association for Community Empowerment’s such effort to promote occupational health safety and raise awareness among waste management workers and their families is a commendable stride towards improving the livelihoods of waste workers and promoting a sustainable environment. It is hoped that this collaboration will serve as a role model for future initiatives that are aimed at promoting environmental sustainability while also ensuring the welfare of workers.