Dubai: The Dubai Municipality on Sunday launched a month-long public awareness campaign aimed at reducing the risk of infections through unhygienic conditions and equipment in ladies and gents salons.
"The campaign, called "Together for Better Health and Safety", arose from a need to make consumers as well as salon staff aware of the dangers of passing on diseases through reuse of unsterilised equipment and unhygienic conditions in salons," said Engineer Abdullah Rafia, Assistant Director General for General Support Services Sector, who inaugurated the campaign.
He said the campaign will be conveyed to the public through press and radio inserts as well as a series of promotions at Union Cooperative Society (UCS) stores across the city and other shopping malls.
Engineer Reda Hassan Salman, Director of Public Health and Safety Department, said that during the campaign, Dubai Municipality inspectors will visiting barber shops and beauty salons to educate consumers and staff about hygienic practices. "They will talk to the barbers about the need to maintain hygiene. They will also address the public if they have any questions regarding safety," he said.
Salman said that inspectors had already conducted 26,000 checks in 3,500 ladies' and gents' salons in Dubai last year. "Out of these inspections, 2006 violations were noticed and all of them were brought into compliance immediately due to the punitive measures taken by the municipality," he said.
There were two live demonstrations during the launch of the campaign. The first one was about ladies' manicure and pedicure procedures and the second one on men's hair- cutting methods.
Philips and Al Ghandi Electronics are supporting the campaign and will help engage people through a campaign across UCS outlets, select shopping malls and its stalls at Carrefour throughout the month. People will receive information leaflets and special giveaways from Philips via promotions.
"We are happy in taking the lead with Dubai Municipality through this campaign to help educate and instil awareness among Dubai residents on the need to adopt safe practices," said Vincenzo Ventricelli of Philips Consumer Lifestyle.
Hygiene: Grooming grievance
The public are encouraged to report any instances of unhygienic salons or grooming practices to Dubai Municipality on the toll-free number 800900 or by visiting the municipality website www.dm.gov.ae.
