Fiji Sun

Pest Control, Cleanlines­s Vital: Kumar

- SHREEYA VERMA SUVA Feedback: shreeya.averma@ fiJISUN.COM.FJ

When it comes to regularly scheduled pest control in your home and office, it is best to have it treated once every quarter or three months.

This was the advice from the Permanent Secretary for Agricultur­e, Vinesh Kumar on the importance of pest control services. Mr Kumar recommende­d to implement an Integrated Pest Management approach when it came to pest control in agricultur­e. “Once your environmen­t is clean, washed, disinfecte­d and sanitised, you are sure of an infection–free living,” he said.

“Make sure to use bio pesticides or synthetic pesticides with zero toxic residues.”

He said a clean and healthy environmen­t meant safe food and water to consume, clean surroundin­gs to live in and clean air to breathe. “A healthy environmen­t is vital to the full enjoyment of basic human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water and sanitation, and quality of life,” he said.

He said pest management was an important component in the agricultur­e sector.

He also advised good personal hygiene and proper hand washing helped prevent diseases as many disease–causing organisms to enter the body when personal hygiene was poor or when hands are dirty. “These organisms can be easily washed away with the use of soap and clean water. This is a practice that should be strictly observed after touching plants, animals, and humans and before preparing or eating food using your hands,” he said.

Mr Kumar said proper disposal of garbage either in landfill or in prepared compost heaps to prevent the spread of disease-causing organisms or germs by insects and animals. “Cleanlines­s, be it personal, social or organisati­onal, is not a matter of choice but an obligation,” he said. “A safe, clean, healthy, and sustainabl­e environmen­t is important to the full enjoyment of a wide range of human rights including the rights to life, health, water, and sanitation. Without a healthy environmen­t, we are unable to fulfill our aspiration­s or even at a level appropriat­e with minimum standards of human dignity.”

 ?? Photo: UNICEF/Jordan/2018/Rich ?? Cold water and warm water are equally effective at killing germs and viruses.
Photo: UNICEF/Jordan/2018/Rich Cold water and warm water are equally effective at killing germs and viruses.

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