Some individuals contend that environmental degradation and housing shortages should be mitigated to prevent disease. I personally concur with the aforementioned statement because these problems are two major causes of illness.
People who advocate for the authorities taking steps to ameliorate environmental problems may cite environmental problems as a driving factor behind individuals catching illnesses. Admittedly, the landscape in which people inhabit is an indispensable part of everyone’s lives due to their everyday interaction with their surroundings. Thus, once contaminated, it may put public health in jeopardy by rendering them constantly exposed to toxic chemicals such as stains or dust, thereby facilitating the spread of diseases. This sentiment finds its resonance in Vietnam, where constant inhalation of impure air leads to an upsurge in respiratory ailments among the locals. Furthermore, in Thailand, frequent intake of tainted and unprocessed tap water has catalyzed people contracting diseases relating to the digestive system. These examples are epitomes demonstrating how a degraded environment exerts a detrimental impact on residents’ health. Therefore, it is imperative that the government mandate strict laws to remedy environmental conundrums, freeing the citizens from afflictions.
Proponents of the view that housing issues should be given more attention from the authorities may highlight their potential repercussions on human health. Indeed, accommodation is one of people’s basic needs, enabling them to thrive and enhancing quality of life. However, demographic saturation has resulted in the underprivileged being incapable of finding decent houses, compelling them to reside in low-quality conditions, the origins of serious diseases. A salient example can be drawn from China, whose rapid urbanization process inevitably fuels a spike in homelessness rates with millions languishing in run-down slums. Low living quality, coupled with poor sanitation in those slums, engendered the catastrophic COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, the Ebola virus originated in Africa, which is notoriously known for inhabitants living in unhygienic conditions due to abject penury. Therefore, it is urgent that the authorities implement a blanket housing provision or government-led housing programs to ensure every citizen gains access to decent accommodation, thereby eliminating the risk of diseases.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that wiping out diseases necessitates environmental and housing issues being fully addressed by the government due to potential diseases arising from lengthy exposure to a degraded environment and poor living conditions.