BY: IZAL MAHAT

There is a saying that goes like this: “Cleanliness is second only to godliness,” by M.K. Gandhi and this goes to show and highlight the sheer importance of public health and hygiene to all of us in this country.

There is a need, especially right now, a crying need for the authorities to be more vigilant and conduct surveillance and monitoring of all public facilities, amenities and open spaces to ensure they are compliant to health care and regulations.

Currently, people throw rubbish and litter indiscriminately, thus polluting the environment and contaminating and clogging drains and waterways and this leads to much sewage being dumped eventually into the ocean.

Public parks and outdoor parks for camping, recreation and picnics must adhere strictly to guidelines on cleanliness and those who are operators at these places must make sure that their premises are clean.

Other measures including controlling the spread of diseases such as dengue by making sure house and apartment compounds are clear of material that support the breeding of mosquitoes and other pests like rodents to prevent leptospirosis.

Restaurant workers and food handlers must wear masks and be vaccinated and all those involved in handling food must have a health screen and certification that they are free of all infectious diseases.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher