Akbar Worried About Rising Number of ‘Convenient Rubbish Dumps’
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Rosy Akbar is alarmed with the many “convenient rubbish dumps” found in urban and rural areas around the country.
She raised her concern after she witnessed rubbish piles in creeks and alongside the roads in neighbourhoods.
Ms Akbar said rubbish piles led to breeding grounds for mosquitoes that could spread dengue.
“After heavy rain the rubbish collects water and breeds mosquitoes. The prospect of having dengue cases is higher during the rainy season,” she said.
“We request members of the public to dispose of their rubbish properly. It is a community effort as well. The Government does its part and the people need to do their own as well.
“Throwing rubbish alongside the roads is irresponsible disposal of household rubbish.
“My chief health inspector and the rural authority teams usually move around the country to see where people have suddenly made convenient rubbish dumps.
Ms Akbar said people must dispose rubbish where it needs to be disposed.
“Our children must be educated on the proper disposal of rubbish. They can be the champions of a better environment around us,” she added.
A resident of Maqbool Road in Valelevu, Nasinu, Ranbeer Singh is worried about the unwanted electrical, household items and a wrecked car found on the road side over the last two weeks.
“Apart from that people have thrown away their old washing machines, roofing irons, refrigerators, tree branches and other household items which they dump carelessly,” Mr Singh said.
Nasinu Town Council chief executive officer, Lute Berends said for car wrecks, the town council had a programme in place where they cleared about 20 wrecks in the past two months.
“Next week we planned to do another round. Hopefully we can include the Maqbool Road wreck in the programme,” Mr Berends said.
In Sigatoka a concerned citizen on social media stated how a man who got off a vehicle on Sigatoka Bridge with a rubbish bin and emptied it into the river while the vehicle made a U-turn from the end of the bridge and picked him up.
Edited by Percy Kean
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