Dear Editor,
On Friday, January 15, 2016, a young lady from the Ministry of Health stopped by my residence to inspect the yard for containers holding water that could be possible breeding areas for mosquitoes.
I did not allow her to inspect my yard because the neighbourhood of Trelawny Street, Newton Street, and other streets in and around Falmouth that carry a drainage system, especially the area of the market, is polluted with stagnant, morass-covered water.
It is not only ironic — and I have seen the adverts — but also an insult to human intelligence to inspect a person’s yard for possible mosquito-breeding sites when the streets are filled with polluted mosquito-breeding water; water that has the potential to breed mosquitoes which are able to transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya and possible the Zika virus and many kinds of parasites that can cause myriad diseases. These viruses and parasites are not only public health issues for local residents of the island but also for visitors.
In 2015, the debilitating impact of the chikungunya virus shook Jamaica to its core and people are still experiencing long-term effects. Jamaica is now facing yet another potentially devastating mosquito-borne disease, the Zika virus.
Secondly, Falmouth has become a tourist destination for cruise ships. Tourists tour the neighbourhood and turn up their noses and make disparaging comment about the drains. The deplorable condition of Falmouth’s drainage system does not present Falmouth in the best possible light to encourage tourism.
Taking all of the above into consideration, I refused to give this, albeit pleasant young lady, permission to inspect my yard until the minister of health and all the departments in charge of public health and safety give attention to this eyesore.
January 15, 2016, I sent a letter to the Ministry of Health, and copies to the mayor of Trelawny, parish council, and the Public Works Department. I have not heard from any of these three sources.
I also sent a copy to the PAHO/WHO, Sunday afternoon, January 17, 2016, after hearing a car driving around the neighbourhood with a public announcement requesting that residents ensure their surroundings are free of containers holding water so as to prevent mosquito breeding. I see this as hypocrisy and my sentiments about the condition in Falmouth, Trelawny, still stands.
The ‘powers that be’ need to do something about stagnant drains in Falmouth and around Jamaica, as the fear of mosquito-borne diseases like the debilitating chikungunya virus, and now the threat of the incapacitating Zika virus is at our doors.
A concerned daughter of Jamaica
On Friday, January 15, 2016, a young lady from the Ministry of Health stopped by my residence to inspect the yard for containers holding water that could be possible breeding areas for mosquitoes.
I did not allow her to inspect my yard because the neighbourhood of Trelawny Street, Newton Street, and other streets in and around Falmouth that carry a drainage system, especially the area of the market, is polluted with stagnant, morass-covered water.
It is not only ironic — and I have seen the adverts — but also an insult to human intelligence to inspect a person’s yard for possible mosquito-breeding sites when the streets are filled with polluted mosquito-breeding water; water that has the potential to breed mosquitoes which are able to transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya and possible the Zika virus and many kinds of parasites that can cause myriad diseases. These viruses and parasites are not only public health issues for local residents of the island but also for visitors.
In 2015, the debilitating impact of the chikungunya virus shook Jamaica to its core and people are still experiencing long-term effects. Jamaica is now facing yet another potentially devastating mosquito-borne disease, the Zika virus.
Secondly, Falmouth has become a tourist destination for cruise ships. Tourists tour the neighbourhood and turn up their noses and make disparaging comment about the drains. The deplorable condition of Falmouth’s drainage system does not present Falmouth in the best possible light to encourage tourism.
Taking all of the above into consideration, I refused to give this, albeit pleasant young lady, permission to inspect my yard until the minister of health and all the departments in charge of public health and safety give attention to this eyesore.
January 15, 2016, I sent a letter to the Ministry of Health, and copies to the mayor of Trelawny, parish council, and the Public Works Department. I have not heard from any of these three sources.
I also sent a copy to the PAHO/WHO, Sunday afternoon, January 17, 2016, after hearing a car driving around the neighbourhood with a public announcement requesting that residents ensure their surroundings are free of containers holding water so as to prevent mosquito breeding. I see this as hypocrisy and my sentiments about the condition in Falmouth, Trelawny, still stands.
The ‘powers that be’ need to do something about stagnant drains in Falmouth and around Jamaica, as the fear of mosquito-borne diseases like the debilitating chikungunya virus, and now the threat of the incapacitating Zika virus is at our doors.
A concerned daughter of Jamaica