By Rachel Chang
AEDES mosquitoes which transmit dengue fever can breed in the
most unlikely places - like on the rim of pails, as a disgruntled
Hong Kah resident discovered.
Fined by an vector control officer for this, she appealed to her
MP Amy Khor, who is also Senior Parliamentary Secretary
(Environment and Water Resources).
But what Dr Khor made of the incident, which she cited at a
conference on Wednesday, was how much pride the officers who
inspect homes for breeding grounds, have in their jobs.
This is despite the brickbats they sometimes receive from
residents.
While outsiders may think it is a mundane and thankless task to
scour every nook and cranny for stagnant water, the officers
understand that any oversight may be a matter of life and
death.
Such a sense of purpose in discharging one's duties should and
can be inspired in every public servant, Dr Khor said when opening
the two-day event on how to create a great workplace environment,
organised by the Civil Service College.
