These days, the weather in Hanoi maintains a prolonged humid state. Air humidity is at times high, accompanied by drizzle and thick fog in the early morning. The floor is "sweating", clothes are difficult to dry, walls are moldy. For families living in solid houses, this situation has caused inconvenience, while for poor workers in cheap boarding areas, high humidity poses many risks of disease.
At a boarding house on Le Thanh Nghi street, Bach Mai ward (Hanoi), the walls are stained with mold, the corrugated iron roof is patched after many years of use. Every time it rains heavily, water floods into the walkways and drains slowly, tenants have to clear it themselves to avoid flooding.
Mr. Duong Van Mao, who has lived in a room of more than 10m2 for many years, said that the walls of the house are damp, and in the rainy season, it must be temporarily covered with tarpaulin. "In this humid season, anyone who comes to the rented area will definitely not be able to live, but I am used to living there for a long time, knowing that there are many risks of causing disease, but I try to fix it, I don't know what to do," Mr. Mao said. According to him, the room rent is only about 1 million VND per month, suitable for the precarious income of freelance workers.
Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa has lived in this boarding house for 10 years. On prolonged rainy days, the entrance is flooded, sometimes overflowing into the room. Household items must be stacked high, constantly cleaned to avoid mold.
Ms. Hoa shared that every time it rains heavily, water stagnates everywhere: "In the humid season, mosquitoes breed, and then there is dengue fever again. Luckily, at the peak of the epidemic, the ward health station came to spray medicine, which is also somewhat more reassuring.
Living here, Mr. Lai Van Giap, 23 years old, is being treated for kidney disease in Hanoi. Talking to reporters, Mr. Giap said that his family has many children, difficult economic conditions, and he can only rent a room in this area. The space is cramped, lacks light, and insects appear more in the humid season.
To limit flies and mosquitoes, we often have to spray mosquito repellent, use electric rackets, but it is only a temporary measure" - Mr. Giap said.
On days with high humidity, after each dialysis, Mr. Giap is often more tired. His weakened body makes him only able to do shoe polishing to earn extra income to cover some of the cost of medicine, and the cost of rent as well as living and eating still needs family support. Therefore, although aware that the living environment can make his underlying illness worse, he still has to accept it because he has no finances.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Vu Huy, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Hanoi Medical University, prolonged humid environments can increase the risk of respiratory, dermatological, and digestive diseases, while creating conditions for mosquitoes and insects to develop. Especially, for people with underlying diseases or weak resistance, high humidity makes health conditions more complicated.
High humidity changes the regulation capacity of the respiratory system, affecting discharge and respiratory reflexes. Not only the respiratory system, cardiovascular and immune systems are also affected," the doctor emphasized.
Doctors recommend that people wear masks when going out, keep the living environment ventilated, avoid moisture and mold, and closely monitor abnormal signs for timely treatment.
