I was greatly appalled by the low level of health and sanitary standards imposed by our Department or Health and Sanitary Services.

I live in a small block of flats. Sometimes, our neighbour who lives on the ground floor goes to work at about 5.30am and returns home in the early hours of the evening. While he is at work enjoying the air-conditioned temperatures at his workplace, we, his neighbours have to put up with the constant purring and filthy habits of his cat

Our neighbour is a chain smoker and every so often the whole block literally stinks either because of the filthy state of his cat or because of his constant smoking.

If it is not one it is the other, and sometimes it is both suffocating smells at the same time. At the height of summer, I feel I want to be sick because of the foul stench caused by the filthy habits of his cat whenever a window or a door is opened overlooking his yard or any other part of his flat. I am a prisoner in my own home and can't open a door or window to let fresh air in. This has only been experienced since this new neighbour moved in.

Although the non-smoking law has been implemented in outlets, I still cannot enjoy its positive effect at home because of our chain-smoking neighbour. Sometimes, it is the continuous noise associated with carpentry and the cancerous fumes that waft up.

Our neighbour was advised verbally several times about the inconvenience he is causing ever since he moved in. However, his attitude and replies only reflected the behaviour and way of life of the town where he hails from in Malta.

I contacted the police several times but my plea fell on deaf ears, except when an understanding police sergeant happened to be on duty.

When, finally, a qualified health inspector from the Department of Health & Sanitary Services, called to inspect our neighbour's flat it was assessed as the cleanest ever! I was shocked! Does the Department of Health and Sanitary Services know the meaning of cleanliness? Do the qualified health inspectors know that bacteria and viruses multiply at a much higher rate in summer? It is obvious that different people have different perceptions of what cleanliness is all about.

May I suggest free courses in hygiene organised by the councils or the mass media to raise Malta's standards of hygiene in the home, in the streets and elsewhere.

Anna Zammit