OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION CONDITIONS AND RAT PRESENCE AT SIMPANG LIMUN MARKET, MEDAN CITY

Abstrak

Traditional markets can become rat habitats due to poor environmental sanitation conditions. Simpang Limun Market in Medan City is a traditional market with high trading activity particularly involving fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, and other foodstuffs that generates daily organic waste. The market faces various sanitation issues, such as scattered refuse, accumulated fish and vegetable scraps, substandard waste receptacles, open and poorly maintained drainage channels, and muddy, damp flooring. These conditions provide food sources and breeding grounds for rats, thereby increasing the risk of disease transmission and disrupting trade activities. This study aimed to assess environmental sanitation conditions and the presence of rats at Simpang Limun Market, Medan City. A qualitative, descriptive research design was employed, utilizing field observations and in-depth interviews with eight vendors acting as informants. The results indicate that the market's environmental sanitation remains suboptimal, characterized by scattered waste, inadequate waste disposal facilities, and open, poorly maintained drainage systems. All informants reported frequent sightings of rats within the market premises, particularly near waste disposal sites, fish-selling areas, and locations where food scraps accumulate. The presence of rats is considered disruptive to trade activities, as they can damage merchandise and contaminate food products. It is concluded that the environmental sanitation at Simpang Limun Market does not meet environmental health standards, and signs of rat presence were observed in several areas of the market. Consequently, sustainable efforts to improve environmental sanitation and control the rat population are required.