DHAKA: ICDDRB and PRAN-RFL Group (Durable Plastics Ltd) have signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday to collaborate on a research project to assess the benefits of safe water use in improving street food safety in Dhaka city.
Under the agreement PRAN-RFL, as the research and development partner, will develop and produce 200 narrow-mouthed water containers for use in the ICDDRB-led study.
ICDDRB Executive Director Professor John D Clemens and RFL Director RN Paul signed in the MoU on behalf of the two organizations at ICDDRB’s Mohakhali office, says a press release.
ICDDRB is evaluating a behaviour change communication intervention for promoting safety of street food in a small part of Dhaka city.
Although very popular, street food can become unsafe if the street food vendors have inadequate knowledge of safe food handling, use non-potable water, and don’t maintain adequate hand hygiene.
Funded by Grand Challenges Canada, the project will aim to evaluate the impact of the behaviour change communication intervention among a group of selected street food vendors for improving knowledge, attitude and practice of safe handling of food.
The knowledge generated from the study may help strengthening street food safety policy in Bangladesh and potentially other low- and middle-income countries where street food is popular.
Dr Aliya Naheed, principle investigator of the project along with other senior representatives of ICDDRB and Chowdhury Hasan Tariq, chief operating officer of Banga Building Materials Limited (BBML) were present during the signing ceremony.
ICDDRB and PRAN-RFL representatives expressed hope that this collaboration would improve practice of safe water use and make street food sold in Dhaka safer.
ICDDRB Executive Director Professor John D Clemens said, “This partnership will pave the way for a whole category of research within the community.”
“Pran-RFL is committed to support ICDDRB by providing all types of support to help in its research,” said Pran-RFL Director RN Paul
BDST: 2015 HRS, APR 03, 2014
