Arsenic contamination of tube well water has become the greatest health threat to the people. This cross-sectional analytic study aimed to find out the prevalence of arsenic contaminated wells in selected areas of Kyaunggon Township, to increase the arsenic awareness and to construct the low-cost arsenic reducing Gravel Sand Filter (GSF) for household use. The water samples were tested for arsenic and other parameters. About 66% (63/96) tube wells of depth between 12 to 183 meters had arsenic concentration more than 10 ppb and moreover 42 out of 63 tube wells had depth between 30 to 90 meters. Therefore, this depth range should be avoided for tube well construction in that area. About 67.7 % (65/96) had iron concentration more than 0.3 ppm, 74 % (71/96) had manganese concentration more than 0.4 ppm and 4.1 % (4/96) had phosphate concentration more than 4 ppm according to WHO drinking water quality guideline. These results were disseminated to basic health staff, teachers and students from respective areas. GSF was constructed and demonstrated to villagers. Widely using of this removal method in arsenic contaminated areas will partly contribute towards the safe water supply and promote the community health.

Background: The distribution of childhood nutritional diseases is shifting from a predominance of under nutrition to a dual burden of under-and over nutrition in low and middle income countries. Rapid economic development and urbanization lead to an increase in overweight and obesity and diet-related chronic diseases. The coexistence of under-and over nutrition is double burden and this is a public health challenge for community. Objective: To find out the nutritional status of primary school children. Method: The study was school based descriptive study and conducted during November 2014 to February 2015 in basic primary schools, basic middle schools and basic high schools in urban and rural area of Yangon, Mandalay, Taungyi and Mawlamyaing. A total of (2937) Grade IV and Grade V students were measured for weight, height and 592 students were measured for haemoglobin by standard equipment and standard procedure. Results: The overall prevalences of stunting, wasting, overweight, obesity and anaemia were 8.8%, 15%, 4.6% and 3.1% and 36.1% respectively. The prevalences of stunting, over weight and obesity were more prevalent in boys and wasting and anaemia were more prevalent in girls. The result showed that the stunting was more prevalent in rural than in urban (7.5% in urban and 12.0% in rural). The prevalences of overweight and obesity were higher in urban than rural area (overweight 5.3% in urban and 2.8% in rural, obesity 3.8% in urban and 0.9% in rural). Children residing in urban area had higher anthropometric parameter than rural children. Conclusion: The present study observed the coexistence of obesity, overweight and undernourishment (wasting and stunting) among Myanmar School children. The findings highlighted the need for continued health promotion efforts to improve nutritional status of primary school children.

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