Toilet facilities are terrible, sanitation is non-existent and communicable diseases have become rampant. Write a letter to the commissioner of health listing the causes of this terrible situation and their solutions. [2023 WAEC ENGLISH QUESTION]
Points to Note
1. This is a formal letter so you must adhere to the rules of writing formal letters.
2. The minimum word count for a WAEC essay or letter is 450 words. One side of an answer sheet accommodates about 150 words for an average handwriting, so you need to write up to 3 sides to achieve the minimum word count.
3. Pay attention to punctuation. If you are going to use punctuation in the address endeavor to apply to all; don’t jump one line and continue with the next.
4. Remember the important aspects of your writing; you must start with an introduction, the middle part (body which will contain the points you are making), and a conclusion. This is very important!
5. The tone of the letter should be formal which means that there should be no greetings and inquiries such as, how are you, how is your family, etc
6. The letter should have a signature.
Blk 14, House No. 10
Sunshine Estate
Asaba
15 October 2023
The Commissioner of Health
Ministry of Health Secretariat
Asaba, Delta State
Dear sir,
Reasons for the Rise in Communicable Diseases and their Solutions
I wish to respectfully draw your attention to the terrible sanitary conditions in our immediate environment in this city which has resulted in a rise in communicable diseases affecting the inhabitants. This terrible situation is caused by several factors which include improper disposal of refuse, lack of toilet facilities, water shortages among others.
Asaba is the capital of our dear state but a stranger will not know this due to the manner in which rubbish and other waste products have overtaken the city’s streets, markets and neighbourhoods. Citizens just throw away food wrappers, water or soft drink containers, raw food items, and any other item they have finished making using off, into the streets without care. These items block the gutters and drainage systems In the streets and make them stagnant bodies of repulsive and mosquito infested water. This careless disposal of garbage is one of the reasons why there is an increase in communicable diseases seen in the city centre, and which is spreading to the surrounding areas.
It is also disheartening that the city does not have public conveniences for people to make use of when nature calls. The few toilets in public areas are so unkempt that they are likely to be disease traps for anyone foolhardy enough to make use of them. This situation has resulted in people practicing open defecation which ought to have been eliminated in our society many years ago. Open defecation is very dangerous because rain water washes the waste back to streams and other bodies of water which people often come in contact with either to drink or launder their clothes since water shortages are common in the city.
To complicate matters further, there are long stretches of lack of water supply in the city. Citizens do not have water to carry out sanitation activities such as keeping the toilets clean, washing market stalls and equipment such as grinding machines, meat cutting slabs, etc. Bacteria flourishes in such places and gives rise to diseases that pass from one person to the other, that is, communicable diseases.
Sir, to curtail the rise in communicable diseases, I suggest the following solutions. First, the government, through the ministry of health, should conduct awareness campaigns on proper disposal of rubbish for the citizens. Refuse collection points should be established and fines imposed on those who fail to use the collection points.
Secondly, every public space such as markets, schools, recreation parks, and others, should be equipped with toilets and properly managed. Citizens would use those facilities if they existed. Thirdly, access to portable water should be easy for the people as this will enable them to carry out activities in a sanitary manner to avoid spreading diseases.
In conclusion, it is very important to resolve the issues stated above to avoid a health emergency and to live a normal, happy life.
Thank you for reading sir.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
Rusan Longmam
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