In December
1994, for the tenth anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak disaster, the Pesticides
Trust [now PAN UK] supported a publicity campaign to raise funds to establish free
neighbourhood clinics for the victims of this tragedy. The official death toll
is 5,325, but the true figure is probably well over 15,000. Eleven years
later, 100,000 are still seriously ill, most of them unable to work or earn a
living.
The gas which leaked from the Union Carbide plant was methyl
isocyanate, used in the process of making the pesticides aldicarb and carbaryl,
and while the company has never supplied sufficient data to alleviate its
effects, these effects are all too apparent. People suffer from respiratory,
neurological, gynaecological, ophthalmic and many other problems. Their immune
system has been affected to the extent that it has been described as
'chemically-induced aids', making them susceptible to many of the illnesses
common in poor areas, such as TB. Although hospitals have been built in
the city, these are not near the gas-affected areas and the medication is rarely
targeted to sufferer's needs. Drugs are often inappropriate, such as
antibiotics or steroids and have caused iatrogenic (medically induced)
illnesses. There is no physiotherapy, counselling or basic health education
which would help alleviate the problems.
The response to the publicity campaign launched a year ago
was tremendous, raising over £50,000. This has enabled support groups in Bhopal
to buy a building for a Bhopal People's Health and Documentation Centre. It
has already begun to gather data needed to monitor the long-term effects and to
improve medical treatments. More funds are needed and much is left to do, but
this marks an important start. It is intended that this should become a pilot of
the kind of neighbourhood centres needed in each gas-affected area.
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[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 30,
December 1995, page 2]