JEDDAH: Piles of garbage obstructing pedestrians, swarms of mosquitoes hovering over stagnant pools of water and constant traffic jams – these are the usual scenes in Al-Karantina District, located in southern Jeddah. At a primary school for girls, Abdo Asiri, the school's guard, is seen urging five workers to complete his house adjacent to the school amidst piles of garbage and pools of sewage water. The laborers can be seen working hard for some time and then slackening their pace at other times. “For several months I've been asking mayoralty cleaners and employees to just provide us with a garbage dumpster next to the school, but in vain,” he said. “The school is surrounded by heaps of garbage on all sides. The public health situation is very bad and the health of these kids is in danger.” He said the situation has been aggravated by sewage water flowing nearby and tons of garbage floating on the “putrid stagnant pools of water”. He said the workers have even been hinting that they would provide a dumpster if they were paid to do so. He said there are also health and safety concerns because of a garbage recycling plant and a bricks factory near the school. “We are fearful especially when it rains.” Asiri said he also fears that he will end up living in a house surrounded by garbage. Near the school, five girls were leaving for their homes and started to play next to the large pools of sewage water. They were not aware of the danger. At times they jumped into the water. They also ate rotten sweets, which they bought from female hawkers nearby. One girl drummed on the body of a parked car while others jumped with happiness and played with the tools of an auto electrician. On the opposite street, Mousa, an old man of the district, walked with long strides holding a cane. He was in a hurry to reach the mosque before the worshippers dispersed after prayers. Mousa was carrying old bags containing items he was selling. At another location on the street, Abdul Aziz Abdullah raised his hands decorated with iron rings and shiny stones – all of them fake. He tried to sell them to passersby, repeating, “This is Yemeni agate (Aqeeq)… and this is a Persian emerald, each for SR5 only.” Further on, under the scorching sun, working between a car wreck and a leaning wall, the mechanic Ahmad was sweating profusely and striving to repair an old engine with a single wrench. Elsewhere there was a Yemeni trader selling colorful garments, among residents who also represented the colors of the rainbow. An official source at the Jeddah Mayoralty told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the city is planning to fix up the area – including removing illegal hawkers, repairing the roads and asking the National Water Company (NWC) to address the sewage water overflows. Abdul Rahman Al-Sahafi, Director of Public Relations and Information and Spokesman of the Health Administration in Jeddah, said 13 model health centers would be set up after the purchase of several plots of land. These include Al-Mahjar Health Center that provides services to the residents of Al-Karantina District. He said ownership of the plots of land is being transferred in preparation for obtaining permits to set up the health centers. Al-Sahafi said the Health Administration has plans to improve the standard of health services in the whole governorate.
