Dubai World Environment, Health and Safety regulatory arm reinforces its commitment to occupational health promotion
Dubai - EHS, the Environment, Health and Safety regulatory arm of Dubai World and Cedars Jebel Ali International Hospital conducted an awareness programme on respiratory tract infections, control and prevention recently at the EHS training center.
The programme was part of EHS's core mission of promoting healthy and safe work environments, and providing knowledge and information about prevention of infectious diseases.
Mr. Ahmed Abdul Hussain, CEO, EHS said:
"The workplace is a breeding ground for the respiratory tract pathogens. In an environment where individuals work in close proximity to each other for long durations and in confined areas within buildings, such as lifts, conference rooms and food courts, the probability of the spread of pathogenic air borne particles increases.
"Besides the obvious concerns for the health and welfare of people, lack of awareness about the spread and prevention of infectious diseases has a negative effect the efficiency of the workforce and on the productivity and profitability of companies. Our programmes are designed to address these problems, increase awareness among employees and employers about control and prevention through simple, common-sense steps."
Dr. Laura Elena Tepelus, head of Occupational Health Department and Infection Control Committee, Cedars - Jebel Ali International Hospital gave the audience general information about respiratory tract infections, with special emphasis on the influenza (flu) virus pathology and epidemiology.
Dr. Tepelus said: "Flu is an extremely contagious disease which spreads quickly and can have devastating and dreadful consequences if untreated. Flu is not a common cold and people must not underestimate the importance of prevention and treatment."
Mr. Samer Saeed, Product Manager - Gulf Area and Iran, Solvay Pharmaceuticals pointed out that prevention programmes within the workplace are effective ways to stop the transmission among employees, their families and customers, lower absenteeism, maintain productivity and reduce medical costs.
Mr. Ahmed Abdul Hussain said:
"Getting employees vaccinated against the flu should be a corporate health priority. We hope that this programme makes the decision to vaccinate employees a logical one for employers, based on analysis of financial terms and corporate culture."
Mr. Saeed stressed the importance of providing the flu vaccine "to employees allowing the entire workforce to benefit from the 'herd immunity'.
Mr.Hendrik van Passel, Managing Director, Medic Cean Air who flew in from Belguim specifically for the EHS awarenesss programme, conducted a presentation highlighting the negative aspects of indoor pollution and the increasing need to eliminate all indoor airborne particles contaminating closed areas.
Mr.Passel said that statistics show that the indoor air contamination causes a loss of productivity of 6.5 percent in all employees.
Top managers and human resources representatives from various Dubai World companies and companies operating in Jafza attended the awareness programme and were given free coupons for Flu vaccination.
-Ends-
For more information, please contact:
Mirvat Sleem
Media Executive
World View Communications,
Dubai World
Email: Mirvat.Sleem@wvc.ae
Tel: +971 4 881 8808
© Press Release 2007
