JEDDAH — Over 80 percent of participants at the largest charity festival for women in the Kingdom are regular exhibitors, Princess Adela Bint Abdullah, head of the foundation that organizes the event, said Thursday. This makes it difficult for other women willing to participate to exhibit at the Busat Al-Reeh (charity bazaar), she said. “We have long waiting lists and some cannot find a place except if they book earlier.” Princess Adela was answering a question from a journalist at a press conference who claimed that some women wanting to exhibit at the festival only managed to do so this year after waiting for up to five years. The princess called on the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish a new grand hall where such events can take place. She said: “Only then can we accept more exhibitors at our charity bazaar.” She said the number of visitors to the festival has exceeded 15,000. The last day of the event is open to families, she said, and that will provide a great opportunity for businessmen to invest in small businesses as they do each year, she said. The increasing demand to exhibit at Busat Al-Reeh, said Princess Adela, demonstrates how much the trust these people have in the event has developed during its 14 seasons. She added that organizers have also noticed that women participating in the event have developed new skills and their works have advanced. Women showcase different accessories, abayas, dresses and handmade goods, among other products. The goal of the bazaar, said the princess, is to generate income for the National Home Health Care Foundation (NHHCF) in the western region. Maram Afif, head of social services at NHHCF, said they will receive their new building in Asir toward the end of this year. The building, when finished, will start serving home patients immediately in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. The building cost SR2.8 million and had an 18-month construction period. Afif explained that they take care of patients at home by providing equipment. The team provided by the Ministry of Health includes a doctor, nurse, health consultant, dietitian and rehabilitation specialists. The ministry also provides necessary medication. The foundation so far has two centers in Jeddah, one at King Abdulaziz Hospital and another at the National Guard Hospital. The foundation also has a center at Madinah and will soon have one in Asir, all funded by the society. Each center serves nearby villages as well. If these centers are short of staff, Princess Adela contacts the minister of health to provide more staff. The foundation provides its services only in the western region, said Afif, as other regions have their own home health care societies. Another type of patient that the foundation serves are poor people, mainly expatriates, who approach the foundation for help. Last year 6,150 patients were served, Afif told Saudi Gazette. She added: “We provide the medication and other needed equipment until the patient asks us to stop or he or she dies.”
