By Caribbean News Global 
VIEUX FORT, St Lucia – The ministry of health, wellness and elderly affairs, said in a release Monday that it “ is aware of the current air quality in the community of La Ressource, Vieux-Fort, given the fire at the Vieux-Fort Landfill.”
The ministry of health failed to describe the nature of the fire and the waste material burning in the atmosphere. Most residents are aware that the area is a landfill, open to domestic, industrial, construction, commercial, and agricultural waste, including hazardous waste. Landfills are a regulated facility.
Instead, the government department communicated that “smoke from the fire may pose a health risk to residents” and further stated that it is “ concerned of the health impacts for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the elderly and pregnant women.”
According to the ministry of health remedial measures, to live healthier lives, individuals were urged to “ move outside of the area until the situation is under control, in an effort to reduce the impact of the smoke on their health.”
No instructions on “move outside of the area” – to what place or position – and support services were mentioned, leaving residents to fend for themselves.
Furthermore, the ministry of health, programs and preventative care, required to foster well-being and reduce the risk of chronic disease, asthma and COPD, communicated that:
“Residents in the area affected by the smoke are also advised to take steps to protect their health, including minimizing outdoor activities, staying indoors as much as possible and to leave the area if one begins to experience symptoms related to smoke exposure.”
The ministry of health press release continued:
“Residents are also encouraged to take the necessary precautions, such as wearing a face mask when going outside if needed and staying hydrated by drinking water to ensure your airway is moist. If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain, please see a healthcare provider.”
The ability to improve overall well-being, reduce health care costs, and subsequently boost productivity to build a stronger economy, by the ministry of health is inadequate at best, and further reinforces years of insufficiency to the well-being of Vieux-Fort and its surrounding communities, with a reasonable chance of a healthier life, is ostensibly compromised.
The inadequacy of the ministry of health thus places a significant burden on health services and economic buoyancy. The ministry of health must improve its development programs and resources, beneficial to an improved quality of life, the health and well-being of all Saint Lucians.
The post Smoke from fire at Vieux-Fort landfill “may pose a health risk to residents” – ministry of health says appeared first on Caribbean News Global.