Don’t Let Your Faith be Half-hearted: Prioritize Cleanliness this Eid ul Azha

Eid-ul-Azha is about sharing happiness with your loved ones. It is the time of the year when animals ranging from cows to goats are seen at every corner of the street and people young and old are enjoying the sight of them. Pakistan is a country with the worst hygiene standards and for such a country to have millions of animals slaughtered in three days, the cleanliness issues hit rock bottom.

Animals are attached to poles everywhere. It’s common knowledge that where there are many cows, there’s a strong unpleasant odor in the air. The city began to resemble and smell like a farm. And just like on a farm, there weren’t sufficient health precautions being implemented, which is a matter of concern in our country.

Since there aren’t enough safe and free spaces available to keep animals protected from theft, people have no choice but to tie them up as tightly as possible. This often means keeping them inside their homes or on the streets nearby. As a result, many of us come into frequent contact with farm animals, which is both unhealthy and unclean.

Unfortunately, we may not realize that being in close proximity to these animals significantly increases our risk of contracting the Congo virus, which is highly lethal and has a high fatality rate. However, the situation deteriorates further when the process of slaughtering animals begins.

Managing solid waste is undoubtedly a challenging job due to the rapid increase in the world’s population. However, taking responsibility for this task can lead to positive results and long-term advantages. In Pakistan alone, approximately 82,000 tons of waste are generated every day. Unfortunately, due to insufficient resources and motivation, except for a few areas, most places show a dismal state of waste management. Large piles of waste can be easily seen along unpaved roads, railway tracks, canals, and empty plots. This terrible situation creates multiple problems related to the environment, society, aesthetics, and health.

We can hope for a better cleanliness situation this year in Pakistan as the newly appointed Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab examined the strategy for gathering animal hides during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, as per a report. During the meeting, Murtaza Wahab, and Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad led a discussion with town chairmen and vice chairmen.

The Mayor of Karachi emphasized the specific locations designated for collecting animal hides, including Jam Chakro, Gond Pass, and Malir Landfill sites. To ensure the appropriate disposal and management of animal remains during Eid-ul-Azha, a total of 91 collection points and 18 main trenches have been set up.

Moreover, The Mayor of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC), Kashif Ali Shoro, had a meeting on Friday with officials from the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) and the private contractor, Atlas Pak, at the HDA Secretariat.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the arrangements for properly disposing of waste from sacrificial animals during the period of Eid-ul-Azha. The mayor mentioned that the elected representatives of the local government would work together with the board and Atlas Pak’s staff to handle the disposal of animal waste.

He assured that the representatives would also encourage people to throw the waste at specific dumping points in each neighborhood. Shoro requested the board and the private contractor to distribute large plastic bags in the neighborhoods so that people can pack the waste in those bags before disposing of them.

What Can We Do About It?

1. After the animals are slaughtered, it’s important to clean the area thoroughly using powerful cleaning products like strong soaps and powdered bleach. It’s recommended to have a continuous flow of water, preferably through a hose, to wash away all the blood. This will make it easier to clean any remaining waste from the animals. Additionally, it’s essential to wash the area again with disinfectants to remove any remaining waste and prevent the spread of germs and parasites.
2. To prevent the growth of germs and parasites, it’s important to avoid having leftover raw meat and animal waste stuck in your drains. One effective way to do this is by using strong chemical cleaners and bleach. By pouring a generous amount of these cleaning agents down the drains, you can help eliminate the risk of dangerous contamination.
3. It’s important to give your butcher an ample supply of storage containers for the meat. Providing them with extra-large garbage bags will also prevent the accumulation of animal waste and skin on the ground. This precautionary measure helps limit the spread of germs and parasites.