JOINING HANDS FOR HEALTH (Editor’s note: The Ministry of Health acts as guardian of the nation’s environment. Indeed, the environment and health are intricately linked, as persons live in and are sustained by the environment. Other Ministries have vested interests in the environment too. Among them is the Ministry of Tourism, which sees as crucial the integration of environmental protection into all functions and strategies to strengthen tourism.
“Joining Hands for Health” features one aspect of environmental protection, that is, individual and community responsibility.)
The world is now poised for war with what some consider to be terrorists organisations. However, a potentially more deadly threat is largely being ignored. There is an ominous pattern behind all the droughts, earthquakes, failed harvests, extreme weather conditions, among others, that are occurring on a global scale. They are symptoms of a sick planet. Ironically, it appears that the very environment that supports man is also being whittled away, polluted and contaminated by him.
This threat should not be taken lightly. Lester Brown, president of the Worldwatch Institute, stated: “The overwhelming threat to our future is not military aggression but the environmental degradation of the planet.” How do we fare, locally? Is this threat any less in The Bahamas? What can residents do as individuals, families and communities to help protect our environment?
The Bahamas has been likened to jewels scattered over a beautiful, emerald backdrop. However, a closer inspection (albeit, a casual one) of our nations roadsides, beaches, parks, abandoned lots and residential communities, in general, reveals unhealthy and unsightly accumulations of garbage and debris. This seems to betray a general lack of regard for the environment. Admittedly, many residents do not realize the treasure they have ﾖ they take their environment for granted. Instead of taking care of this gift from God, residents are polluting it with garbage and refuse.
Do you recall a time: When children carried packed lunches to school, and were encouraged to “bring the foil and sandwich bags back home”? When families would own only one car (that was not frequently replaced)? When furniture was bought for life ﾖ they might be reupholstered or refinished?
These “dinosaurs” were all aspects of our changing society ﾖ a society that is becoming increasingly materialistic and commercial. Commercialism has fostered greater consumerism. Advertising creates an insatiable hunger that leads to debilitating over-consumption, and spawns the proliferating waste dumps found all around The Bahamas.
Consumerism – Yes, many of us are now able to purchase new cars every five years, as well as keep up with the latest trends in furniture and clothes, etc. However, this comfort and luxury have brought mixed blessings.
The Ministry of Health has acknowledged that the activities of many residents, as they relate to the disposal of trash and waste, are having a dangerous impact on our environment. In fact, many indicators show that the deadly tracks of pollution are becoming more pronounced.
Disease Vector – Dengue, spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, is controlled in the country, largely due to measures implemented and maintained by the Departments of Environmental Health and Public Health, among other governmental agencies. However, dengue is still a threat to residents. Since the 1950s a deadly, new hemorrhagic form of the disease has emerged and spread through the topics.
Malaria, which science had once hoped to eradicate, is still a minor threat, locally. Both malaria and dengue are just two diseases that are spread by a vector that thrives in “filthy” environments. Studies carried out by the Ministry of Health suggest that abandoned refrigerators, car tires, bottles and containers, illegally and arbitrarily dumped, are major breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Additionally, rats thrive in environments that do not possess many snakes (a natural predator), and have lots of garbage (perhaps stored in bins lacking proper lids or covers). Even though the Department of Environmental Health Services systematically uses poisons and chemicals to help eradicate the rat problem, these measures prove largely ineffective, as residents continue to create the environments that sustain rat populations.
Besides dengue and malaria, mosquitoes, rats and other vectors such as flies can transmit many other diseases to residents. It is therefore imperative that all residents take a participatory role in effective waste management.
Education of the public regarding proper waste material disposal, reduction and utilization is critical to any wider strategy to clean up our Bahamaland. This health education must be built on a strong foundation of health promotion and regulation. Such health promotion would, no doubt, include providing economic, convenient and reliable access to environmentally sound, solid waste disposal. Additionally, promotion would also create strategies for recycling, composting, hazardous waste disposal and more.
The Environmental Health Act and Health Rules state laws that govern the disposal of garbage. Bulky commercial and residential items such as discarded appliances, furniture and tree clippings must be properly secured and transported to designated landfills on each island. In New Providence, there is the Harold Road Landfill.
The Department of Environmental Health has implemented regular curbside bulky waste collection in the Saint Cecilia, Farm Road and Blue Hills communities, New Providence. Residents may call the Solid Waste Collection Division for appointments to have their discarded items collected. It is the hope of the Ministry of Health that this measure will discourage illegal dumping and abandonment of debris to slowly rot and become hazards to playing children.
The Ministry is cognizant that the Bulk Waste Clean-up Campaign conducted in just three areas, does not sufficiently address the problem nationwide. Therefore, requests made from residents of other communities will, likewise, be dealt with as present resources allow. Communities are encouraged to arrange a date on which all residents could have their bulky items ready for pickup.
The Department of Environmental Health also provides regular and frequent residential, curbside waste collection. Such waste might include household, especially kitchen refuse, as well as non-bulky, organic debris originating in the garden. All residents are to deposit such waste in proper containers.
55-gallon metal containers with holes punched in the bottom are commonly used for containerisation. However, these are especially heavy and have caused injury to sanitation workers. Additionally, such containers offer little or no security from stray dogs, flies, rats and rodents. Even with the holes, these containers still trap water, thereby, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes and producing a liquid called leachate. Leachate is a potential contaminate of underground water supplies.
The Ministry of Health proposes 32-gallon rubber containers with tightly fitted lids and wheels as the proper method of containerisation. Ideally, replaceable, plastic bags should line the containers. Garbage from the kitchen can also be secured in plastic bags and further put in the larger containers for pickup. The number of containers acquired should be based on the volume of garbage generated between pickups. Finally, garbage receptacles should be placed where they are away from water lines and stray dogs and easily accessible to collectors.
The Ministry of Health encourages all residents to become waste conscious. Employ simple methods to minimize and recycle waste. Such methods may include requesting single bags, instead of double bags, at the grocery store; or more effectively, carrying reusable canvas bags for groceries. Keep a bag in your car for trash. Most of all: DO NOT LITTER! By properly managing our waste, we can maintain our beautiful environment and ecosystem, attract visitors to our country and protect our health.
(For a detailed discussion and information regarding ways that you may assist in the Clean-up Campaign contact the Ministry of Health’s Health Education Division at 502-4836.
“Joining Hands For Health” is presented each week by the Health Education Division, as a public service of the Ministry of Health and The Nassau Guardian.)
The Nassau Guardian
