The Editor, Sir:

It is indeed regrettable that the Leader of the Opposition should seek to make political capital out of the reappearance of malaria in Jamaica.

The folly is further exposed as it is quite evident that he does not understand the subject, and for people like me who have studied communicable disease control and worked in this area, the utterances appears both comical and disgusting.

Anyone with even limited know-ledge in preventative medicine knows that the appearance and reappearance of certain type of diseases is cyclical and even with the best prophylactic measures, reappearance in time is almost inevitable.

One to be envied

Jamaica's record in the control of communicable diseases is one to be envied, and we have over the last five or six decades conquered diseases such as yaws, typhoid, hookworm, measles, whooping cough, diphtheria as well as reducing the incidence of tetanus. This country possess one of the most experienced and competent field forces in the world and does not require any assistance from the untrained mind when carrying out its work.

An utterance such as that made by the Leader of the Opposition, serves to undermine public confidence in public professionals and consequently retard progress.

In matters of this nature there is a clear role for the political representative:

1. To mobilise the people and have them participate to the fullest by their responses to the directives being given by the health professionals.

2. To assist with health education programmes, as many "old wives tales" are still abound, and do retard the attainment of maximum protection in the communities.

3. To assist with the optimisation of security for health workers, equipment and stock.

It is my prayer that moment like these which demand national unity and informed commentary will not in the future, be undermined by cheap political utterances.

I am, etc.,

OSWALD S. SEYMOUR J.P.

Ossie1@cwjamaica.com