Customs wing puts safety rules in place

Dubai Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation (DPCFZC) has adopted a series of procedures to protect the country from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The Environmental Edu-cation Unit of the corporation held a seminar for officials, who are handling Dubai-bound ships, regarding symptoms of the disease and precautionary measures to be taken at Dubai Customs yesterday.

Dr Hassan Al Shury, Head of Protective Services at Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services, said the symptoms of SARS are abnormally high body temperature, dry cough, breathing difficulties, headache, muscle contraction, loss of appetite, diarrhoea.

Engineer Abdullah Ahmed bin Haydar, Senior Director of Environment Health and Safety Department at the corporation, said the seminar will help officials.

He said the corporation has issued brochures explaining precautionary steps to be taken. The corporation also assigned a team of specialised doctors and nurses to be on call around the clock.

He said all officials operating in control tower at Dubai seaports are given clear instructions to subject any ship for exhaustive inspection if the ship is suspected to have individuals affected with SARS.

Awatif Mohammed, Senior Officer of Environmental Education Unit, explained that corporation officials, who work closely with ships entering Dubai ports, have received specialised training courses on how to handle SARS cases.