Acting Minister of Health Bourne-Gumbs provided SCDF with ear plugs to protect hearing of children in parades

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PHOTO CUTLINE: Acting Minister of Public Health Hon. Rita Bourne-Gumbs (3rd from left) presenting the children ear plugs to SCDF representative Alston Lourens in the presence of staff from the Ministry of Public Health. DCOMM Photo

PHILIPSBURG – Acting Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs and Labour Hon. Rita Bourne-Gumbs recently presented St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) representative Alston Lourens ear plugs that were given out to children and others in connection with the Carnival parades on Thursday and Friday.

Representatives of the Department of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) from the Ministry of Public Health were also present for the presentation to the SCDF.

“The ear is an advanced and very sensitive organ of the human body.  The more you listen to loud sounds, the more likely you are to damage your hearing.  A continuous noise level of 85 DB will result in hearing damage.

“We want especially children to protect their hearing from the loud music that is common practice during the parades.  This was the objective of the presentation of the ear plugs, a preventative measure which CPS has carried out before,” Minister Hon. Rita Bourne-Gumbs said on Friday.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Acting Minister of Public Health Hon. Rita Bourne-Gumbs (3rd from left) presenting the children ear plugs to SCDF representative Alston Lourens in the presence of staff from the Ministry of Public Health. DCOMM Photo