It appears that the majority of our politicians have a disturbing lack of understanding of what befits their position and what, most certainly, doesn't.

First we have our head of state packing up his bags and going off for a month in Peru on missionary work. If you're wondering what is wrong with doing missionary work, the reply is "nothing". On the contrary, it is a highly laudable endeavour. And that is exactly what the head of our country should be doing; lauding and encouraging such efforts, as opposed to actually taking part.

At least the intention behind the president's gesture is good. I can't really say the same about Minister for Health Joe Cassar's recently discovered aversion to dog "poo". Seriously, Mr Minister, with all the high priority issues related to your ministry, did you really figure that taking a photo of a pile of crap on the beach is the best way to garner voter sympathy?

Do we really need to make a national issue out of those who slip through the net? Maybe we should all start sending photos of illegally parked cars to the media. Or even photos of the queues at the Mater Dei outpatients department?

Or maybe we would rather launch a witch-hunt against dog owners rather than focusing on the real reasons why this country is going to the dogs (sorry). Here's some more news, Mr Minister. Well, three pieces of news, rather. All of which you should be focusing on, instead of wasting time taking photos of piles of crap on the beach.

The effects that mercaptan dumped by Enemalta back in 2009 will have on the nation's health. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm almost hundred per cent sure that inhaling all that nasty mercaptan is more harmful than stepping in a pile of dog poop. Yet, I see no indignant letters or photos emerging from your ministry.The number of teenage pregnancies remains too high when compared to other European countries and Malta's sexual health strategy is doing jack to address this. Since the launch of this strategy we heard nothing more: are teenage students even being given the basics, ie why pregnancy at age sixteen is not a good idea? Or are we leaving it all to providence while we go snap happy over dog poop?A high number of people with disabilities are facing a choice between impossible financial burdens and going for therapy. Since the initial hoo-ha after Inspire suffered funding cuts, the fate of these people was forgotten. What is the health ministry doing to ensure they don't have to forego therapy?

There are other myriad issues that deserve our health minister's urgent attention. I make these points without belittling the progress that has indeed been made: yes, Mater Dei is a million light years better than the nightmare that was St Luke's and yes, we are lucky to have free (and good) health services.

But nothing is perfect and I expect our health minister to be busying himself with fixing that which does not work under his portfolio. As opposed to demeaning his position by trying to garner voter sympathy and sending in pictures of poop.

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