[Opinion] Housing and environmental issues should be dealt with by government

Some people think that in order to prevent illness and disease, governments should make efforts in reducing environmental pollution and housing problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Housing – people living in tight quarters / sharing a small space -> potential to spread diseases more easily -> exemplified by COVID pandemic hit impoverished areas of Hong Kong where people often share accommodation with dozens in a single apartment unit 

Poor conditions in old houses and apartment complexes can also be potentially harmful to inhabitants’ well-being. People living in dilapidated + run-down structures have to face with respiratory diseases from mold buildup and a unmaintained plumbing system also creates an environment to spread water-borne diseases 

Reducing environmental pollution:

At the same time – air pollution is the leading cause of respiratory diseases because pollutants in the air can greatly affect citizens when they go outside. This would have a more widespread effect on people because it is a global issue resulting from hundreds of years of emission from industry and transportation. 

Soil pollution resulting from chemical fertilizer use is also a concerning aspect which governments should address because it directly affects our food quality. Polluted farming areas can produce vegetables and fruits overladen with chemicals and other pollutants, causing digestive problems for consumers. 

Some people think that in order to prevent illness and disease, governments should make efforts in reducing environmental pollution and housing problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is believed that authorities worldwide should play a more proactive role in addressing environmental and housing concerns so as to counteract the spread and risk of diseases. Personally, I completely agree with the above notion. 

To begin with, problems stemming from poor living conditions are undoubtedly the root causes of many health issues and should be thoroughly addressed by the government. For one, when citizens have to resort to sharing their accommodation with others due to increasing living costs, diseases are more likely to spread. This is exemplified by the COVID pandemic spreading uncontrollably in the impoverished living quarters of Hong Kong, where dozens often share a single apartment unit. Coupled with this, poor conditions in old houses and apartment complexes can also be potentially harmful to inhabitants’ well-being in many ways. People living in dilapidated and run-down structures have to face respiratory diseases from mold buildup and an unmaintained plumbing system also creates an environment to spread water-borne diseases such as dysentery. 

At the same time, environmental concerns should also be dealt with through governmental efforts so as to address the dangers that they could bring to community health. Firstly, air pollution is the leading cause of respiratory diseases because pollutants in the air can greatly affect citizens when they go outside. This would have a more widespread effect on people because it is a global issue resulting from hundreds of years of emission from industry and transportation. Secondly, soil pollution resulting from chemical fertilizer use is also a concerning aspect which governments should address because it directly affects our food quality. Polluted farming areas can produce vegetables and fruits overladen with chemicals and other pollutants, causing digestive problems for consumers.

All in all, I would argue that it is imperative for accommodation and environmental issues to be addressed by the government so as to diminish the spread and dangers of illnesses among their citizens.