JEDDAH: The Jeddah municipality has ordered all commercial centers, malls and supermarkets to place anti-bacterial deep-cleansing hand gel and tissue paper near trolleys so that customers can clean their hands before using the carts. The move comes as part of the municipality’s efforts to create a healthy environment and increase health awareness.
The municipality also ordered the posting of signs in both Arabic and English requesting shoppers to sterilize their hands before and after using the trolleys.
Acting undersecretary of the municipality for the affairs of licenses, Dr. Bashir Najm said modern studies had revealed that the handles of trolleys are contaminated with bacteria, germs, viruses and traces of sweat. “These things easily transmit diseases. Shoppers use their hands to push the trolleys and sometimes they put their children in them, thus increasing the danger of infections and diseases,” he said. Najm asked all commercial centers, supermarkets and shops to abide by the rules or face penalties and fines.
A number of malls and commercial centers in Jeddah approached by Arab News said so far they had not received any instructions from the municipality but said they would implement the order “which is in the general interest of customers” and also in the interest of the malls and commercial centers.
At the same time, Dr. Abdul Aziz Humaidan, a general practitioner, underlined the need for preventive measures and said they should not be limited to trolleys but should include all places which could be sources of bacteria and germs.
A medical conference held in Jeddah recently discussed the hazards of epidemics transmitted through touching. It noted the Kingdom annually spends about SR2 billion on the treatment of skin diseases caused by touching. The conference called for observing correct healthy behavior in life and curbing the spread of disease and infection.
