My letter to
The Straits Times on the above subject was published in print on Tuesday 21st
June 2016.
Cockroaches
have the habit of searching for food in dirty places such as rubbish bins,
chutes, drains and sewers at night ("Roach problem: Prata Wala
licence suspended"; last Wednesday).
As
they frequent latrines, they can easily spread germs that cause conditions such
as diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid fever and cholera.
Everyone
has a responsibility to ensure that we live in a clean environment so that
diseases do not spread easily and that our health is not compromised.
Besides
carrying out inspections at food stalls and eateries, the National Environment
Agency should also see to it that the Housing Board and town councils ensure
roaches do not invade homes.
Whenever
fogging of the rubbish bins is undertaken in my estate, there is very poor
coordination between the workers carrying out the fogging and the cleaners.
Once
the fogging is under way, cockroaches crawl out from the chutes, and onto the
floors and walls of void decks.
Because
the cleaners do not get rid of them immediately, these insects make their way
back into homes and even childcare centres. Sometimes, the roaches crawl all
over for days.
Cleaners
should immediately remove the roaches before they escape into homes. If not, it
would defeat the purpose of fogging.
Raymond Anthony Fernando
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