10 April 2008
Dubai: A disaster management plan for Dubai ports, focusing on infectious diseases and chemical spills, is in the works as part of the emirate-wide disaster and emergency response strategy.
The Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) is currently evaluating a disaster and emergency response plan for the emirate, including identifying the hazards, projecting the number of beds required for a massive disaster, and the protocol for effective disaster management, applicable until 2015.
Dr Zulfiqar Ali, senior specialist registrar at the Trauma Centre who presented the Dubai 2015 Plan at the International Emergency and Catastrophe Management (IECM) conference, told the press the next step was a disaster plan for Dubai ports. Dubai airport already has a disaster management plan.
"We're concerned with infectious diseases and chemical spills," he said. "People are coming into Dubai without any formal testing [and] the ships stay in ports for days or months. What if the ship is carrying [diseased] rats and they get on land, for example?"
He said the plan, which should be ready for submission in two months, would tackle screening, containment and quarantine issues, and be integrated into the emirate-wide Dohms disaster management plan.
The plan calls for more staff and facilities to deal with any possible disasters that require healthcare intervention, as well as more stringent screening process.
"Currently, we only have one doctor and two nurses at the port clinic, and their job is only to give medical certification to ships [after cursory examination]. That's not enough," he said.
The 2015 Dubai Disaster Plan has a protocol in dealing with chemical spills and accidents.
Other hazards the plan has identified include traffic accidents, building collapse, fires, plane crashes and tsunami.
The plan also recommends better collaboration between emirates, and to set up a mechanism for cooperation at the national and regional levels.
Environment: Centre to protect sea life
Dubai Police will establish a centre to protect sea life and combat sea pollution and the dangers that threatens sea life and fisheries.
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police, approved the strategy of the Sea Pollution Combating Centre and its organisational structure. The centre will be located in Jebel Ali Port.
He said protecting sea life is one of the priorities of Dubai Police, especially regarding the dangers that threaten fisheries, as well as maintaining the tourism in the country. He said the beaches require intensive monitoring. Lieutenant General Dahi reviewed strategic plans to combat sea pollution and oil spills in addition to a study on equipment and machineries available with some authorities to establish the centre. He also discussed plans to start training programmes in June.
By Nina MuslimGulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
