DHAKA: Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) has taken elaborated program to celebrate Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 19-25).

This week is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action, an international event to build awareness that lead, a toxic metal harmful to the environment and human health, is still being used in paint and other consumer products. 

More than 50 events are scheduled around the world as part of the prevention week. 

Activities in Bangladesh are being coordinated by ESDO and include an art competition for school children and a human chain at the National Press Club. 

The human chain will start at 10:00am Friday, the 24th October in front of the National Press Club. 

The art competition will take place at 1.30pm at Lalmatia Girls High School on Saturday, the October 25.

ESDO is a member of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (GAELP), a jointly led initiative of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Programme. 

The broad objective of the alliance is to promote a phase-out of the manufacture and sale of paints containing lead and eventually to eliminate the risks that such paints pose. 

Lead paint has been banned in industrialized countries for over 30 years, but continues to be sold throughout the developing world causing significant harm to human health and the environment.

BDST: 1825 HRS, OCT 22, 2014