“Prevention is better than cure”. Out of a country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventative measures. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

“Prevention is better than cure”. Out of a country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventative measures. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Providing appropriate healthcare services to the inhabitants of a country has always remained an important social initiative, but consistently rising per capita health expenditure has invited a debate on finding ways of cutting down public expenditure in this domain. Some have even suggested channelizing funds to programs aimed at encouraging prevention of ailments rather than combating them.

Diverting public money to initiatives aimed at teaching inhabitants about healthy practices can be more productive and fruitful as it would help in ensuring keeping various fatal and crippling diseases at bay, thereby reducing the need to manufacture and procure expensive medicines and equipment. This would enable the government to channelize the much precious funds to ensuring better life and facilities for the inhabitants of a country.

Furthermore, prioritizing creating awareness among masses about benefits of adopting and leading a healthy lifestyle over treating would result in improving the health index of society, especially in terms of fatal and crippling diseases. This, is turn would enhance the productivity of the society by shifting its focus to more vital areas rather than exploring ways to treat ailments.

However, reducing financial outlay and changing preferences from providing treatment to educating about healthy lifestyle and prevention of ailments could prove to be a disaster as the life is becoming complex and many people may not be receptive to the idea of leading a disciplined life. Moreover, certain illnesses and disorders occur due to unavoidable reasons especially those linked to the aging, complex lifestyle and pollution, for instances, some illnesses like arthritis start occurring naturally and cannot be prevented even by following a healthy lifestyle.

To sum up, I feel that government should keep both prevention and cure on priority and not focus only on one area - both of these enjoy equal relevance for effective healthcare interventions. 

Many parents use punishment to teach the different between right and wrong to kids. Many think punishment is unnecessary to help children learn the distinction between right and wrong. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many parents use punishment to teach the different between right and wrong to kids. Many think punishment is necessary to help children learn the distinction between right and wrong. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Punishment And Parenting

Parenting has always been a tricky job because it needs people to handle one of the most difficult beings on the planet, i.e. the children. This job can test the wits of parents especially when it comes to teaching the kids about differentiating between the good and bad. Involving some sort of punishment in teaching process is sometimes regarded as a critical component of parenting; however, critics despise this practice.

Juveniles are adventurous, immature and often prone to adopting ways of erratic behavior. Their inquisitive tender minds often lead them into exploring such activities and domains which should otherwise be avoided during growing years.  It is necessary to dissuade them from such expeditions and as per some parents, chastising is the best way is prevent the kids from taking up habits or involving themselves into such habits that have a potential of hampering their growth.

Furthermore, rebuke and reprimand have always been regarded as the short cuts to inciting discipline among the young ones. The fear of cane and verbal punishment have always deterred the growing kids from doing something over adventurous, and instead encouraged them to take up righteous path that is disciplined and fruitful. The kids disciplined at home are thought to grow up as those rational adults who know the difference between good and evil.

However, modern psychologists and social scientists disapprove and reject theory of rebuke. As per them, there is no place for punishment in a caring relationship and moreover, chastising can often result in severe consequences where the children either grow up as violent adults or take extreme steps in their growing years.

To sum up, I feel although the view of modern child psychologists holds true in contemporary era, traditional concept of upbringing cannot be completely overruled, making this practice relevant even today.