As part of ongoing preparations to welcome visitors to Madinah after the Hajj season, the National Center for Environmental Compliance announced it is intensifying its monitoring efforts to ensure a healthy and safe environment for pilgrims. This step is part of a comprehensive operational plan aimed at enhancing compliance with environmental standards in all service and health facilities in the city, in coordination with relevant health and service authorities.
The importance of Medina and the context of environmental efforts
Madinah holds immense religious significance as the second holiest city in Islam, attracting millions of pilgrims and visitors annually after performing Hajj in Makkah to visit the Prophet's Mosque. This massive influx places considerable strain on infrastructure and services, necessitating a robust regulatory framework to safeguard public health and the environment. The National Center for Environmental Compliance's efforts are part of a long-standing commitment by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to providing the highest quality services to pilgrims, while adopting the latest global best practices in environmental management and sustainability, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.
Intensive inspection tours of health facilities
The plan included proactive field visits targeting health facilities and seasonal centers directly involved in serving visitors. The center explained that inspection teams visited 10 hospitals and 7 health centers dedicated to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, in addition to 5 centers at entry points and along roads, and 6 support health centers. These visits aim to ensure these facilities comply with approved environmental regulations and requirements, and to enhance oversight of facilities with environmental impact, thereby promoting a healthy environment and preventing any violations that could affect the health of visitors and residents.
Ensuring a safe and healthy environment through waste management
Environmental inspector Hiba Al-Sharif confirmed that inspection tours focus specifically on healthcare facilities and medical mission centers for pilgrims to ensure their compliance with contracting with accredited and qualified entities for handling all types of waste. Al-Sharif stated, “Our inspection and field tours focus on healthcare facilities and medical mission centers for pilgrims, verifying their contracts with accredited and qualified entities for waste disposal, whether commercial or hazardous medical waste, to guarantee a safe and healthy environment for the pilgrims.”.
For her part, Safaa Arabi, Director of the Hazardous Medical Waste Management Department at the Madinah Health Cluster, explained that the collection and transportation of hazardous medical waste is monitored daily according to a scheduled operational plan. She added that the transportation takes place along safe routes, far from areas where pilgrims congregate, thus contributing to public safety and minimizing any potential environmental impact.
Local and international impact on promoting environmental commitment
The importance of these efforts extends beyond the local level of protecting the environment of Medina and the health of its residents and visitors; it encompasses a significant international dimension. The Kingdom's success in providing a safe and environmentally friendly Hajj and Umrah experience reinforces its leading position in the Islamic world and underscores its ability to manage the largest human gatherings efficiently and effectively. The center monitors any environmental violations using modern equipment and technologies that support rapid response and immediate action on observations, ensuring the preservation of the environment and public health in areas related to serving pilgrims.
