Nabila Mahjoob Al-Madinah While writing about the poor condition of public toilets, I recall an article written by Hatoun Al-Fasi, who recounted a bitter experience she had when she went out for shopping, accompanied by her children. Some other writers also dealt with this matter. Anyhow, this sensitive and important issue has so far not given the proper attention it deserves. It is shameful to write about the dismal state of public toilets at some of the rest houses and mosques along the Kingdom's highways. We used to hear some offensive words from pilgrims from neighboring Gulf states sharply criticizing the poor condition of these toilets. They were expressing their bitter feelings when forced to use these filthy and untidy toilets during their long pilgrimage trip. Almost all of us, including the children, elderly and sick, have had to face a situation where we are forced to use public toilets at mosques, souks, as well as rest houses along roads and highways. I had ignored a message mailed to me by one of my readers asking me to write about the dismal state of public toilets. She recounted the bitter experience she had while out with her children. I remembered about it when I saw a video clip on YouTube drawing attention to this pressing issue. She wrote about the desperate situation when going out with children in order to spend some time on the Corniche or any other public places. The reader noted that there are public toilets only at some mosques and they close after the Isha prayer. This is the same situation she has been facing whenever she would take her children to the Corniche. There are some paid public toilets and their condition is also not different. The important thing is cleanliness no matter the charge, which can reach even SR10, for using these toilets. The reader is asking why the government is not forcing the gas station owners to set up public toilets on their premises, following the example of other countries. She also asked why the government is not setting up public toilets along the Corniche to serve the large number of picnickers. There are toilets attached to mosques but they are far away from their picnicking area and are also not designed for those who frequent the beaches, she added. I have to say that the authorities should give greater attention to this vital issue. There should be public toilets for all, especially women, children and people with special needs, at all public places. It is also important that there should be some supervisors to ensure their cleanliness as well as to make available all necessary materials such as disposable toilet seat covers, napkins and waste containers so they are used properly. I found this is not the case at the women's toilets even in the airports of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam even though there is a mechanism for cleaning and monitoring them. Toilets at some restaurants and souks are also in a dismal state in the absence of proper cleaning and monitoring. Some people are negligent in properly using toilets and keeping them clean and tidy. In this regard, they even disregard the rights of others to use them. A week ago, I visited Disney World in Orlando. I had to use a public bathroom in this US city. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the cleanliness and the elegant way people used the bathrooms there. I couldn't see any paper thrown out on the ground and everything one needed, including disposable toilet seat covers, napkins, soap and hand cream, was available. Unfortunately, we do not have this sense of individual responsibility. We also do not provide the much sought after care and attention in properly maintaining public toilets. The important thing is that all public places and restaurants as well as gas stations and rest houses along the roads have to set up a sufficient number of public toilets and maintain them properly. Automatic flush technology and disposable toilet seat covers should also be used. As citizens, it is our responsibility to monitor and admonish those who are careless in maintaining the cleanliness of public toilets. We have to learn lessons from Westerners in this regard as they are vigilant against those who violate the rules. They reprimand such people and sometimes it can be with harsh words or just a stare.
