Education needed on dangers of burning waste

THE EDITOR, Madam:

To Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, Chief Medical Officer Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, Permanent Secretary Dunstan Bryan, and all the staff at the health ministry.

I would like to thank you for, and congratulate you on, all the work you have done in keeping COVID-19 at bay, and the way in which you have kept the public informed.

I have another concern, not unrelated to COVID-19, which is the amount of burning of garbage and garden waste taking place across Jamaica. I have been informed that smoke from such burning, in addition to being unpleasant, is more harmful to our health than tobacco smoke. However, most people do not seem to be aware of that danger and consider the practice to be normal.

I understand that there is a unit in the health ministry that addresses behaviour change. I would be most grateful if this unit could consider mounting a campaign to educate the citizenry about the harmful effects of smoke from the burning of garden waste and garbage; and the possible alternatives, such as composting.

HELEN WILLIAMS