Although much attention has been paid to preventing the spread of swine flu at airports, schools and hospitals, the country's tens of thousands of labour camps also present an epidemiologist's nightmare. Most of the millions of labourers are housed in dense accommodations, sometimes sleeping six or more to a room and with limited access to hygiene facilities.
Although there have yet to be any recorded cases of the disease among labourers, the diversity of languages - including Malayalam, Urdu, Hindi, Bangla and Nepalese - makes it harder to reliably warn workers of the risks, as does the high level of illiteracy. At yesterday's briefing, Saqar Ghobash, the labour minister, said his department was preparing guidance for labour camps, which should be ready this week.
Until now, camps have largely been left to take the initiative. ETA Ascon Star, which employs 72,000 workers across the UAE, has already gone its own way, introducing a programme of screening, hygiene measures and awareness campaigns to try to keep the H1N1 virus away. This week, the company, which houses its workers in 24 camps, will hold a meeting to invite other employers, including Dulsco, Arabtec and Tadweer, to implement the same safeguards.
Mohitheen Batcha, ETA's corporate welfare manager, said: "We noted that action was being taken in other places and decided it was also necessary in our camps, where the risk of spreading is higher because of the proximity of inhabitation and lack of awareness among the labourers. "All new residents at our labour camps are now routinely checked for the virus. We have also provided training to all our camp managers on how to identify and manage a case of swine flu."
The company has put posters in English, Hindi, Tamil and Bangla in communal areas in all its camps. ETA has been co-ordinating checks between hospitals and its own medical centres. It intends to contact Dubai Municipality and the Ministry of Labour once the scheduled meeting has been convened. At the company's Sonapur camp in Dubai, two workers went to hospital after flu-like symptoms were detected but both tested negative.
Dr Khalid Hussain holds two three-hour clinics a day at the camp. "We have been working to educate the workers on swine flu and the importance of being checked if they suffer any symptoms," he said. Possible swine flu victims will be treated in isolation rooms until they can be taken to hospital for free tests. They will receive full pay while sick. "If someone tests positive we will place all residents living in the same block under surveillance but they will only be tested if symptoms are identified. They will still go to work," said Dr Hussain.
Other companies said they were putting in place plans for H1N1 awareness campaigns. Dulsco, which employs more than 6,000 construction workers, is posting information around camps, and educating employees on the symptoms, according to Mohammed Ayub, a senior manager. The company planned to screen employees who had visited or passed through affected areas and isolation rooms had been arranged to accommodate suspected cases.
S S Lootah Contracting, another leading construction company, is giving out masks to employees. "Cases of flu are reported to our medical centre, where we provide primary health care services and medicine to all our workers, but all is well so far," said Rashid Lootah, a director of the company. Most workers said they were aware of the flu, but very few knew what precautions could be taken. "So many of us live together, so if one person gets ill then others will also definitely get it," said Aaram Ali, a construction worker from India who lives in Sonapur.
Jog Bahadur, the head of an Arabtec camp, said officials from Dubai Health Authority had visited. "They spoke in Hindi with several workers and advised them on steps that need to be taken," he said. "People are aware of this problem. No flu cases have occurred." Sick workers were given separate rooms until they felt better. Other workers said that, with many colleagues returning from holiday, concern was even greater.
Companies in Abu Dhabi are also taking prevention steps. Andrew Broderick, the head of health, safety and environment at the property developer Aldar Properties, runs a labour camp on Yas Island, which is home to about 40,000 workers. "We have a fully functioning clinic on Yas Island that runs 24 hours a day and is capable of handling any cases of swine flu," he said. "We have launched a campaign to encourage people to employ good hygiene practices. We are also making sure people are aware of the symptoms."
The company has set up an isolation ward with about 14 beds in a separate building. Rajesh Sharma, manager of a camp in Musaffah, said: "We know that there is this terrible fever you get and it is difficult to breathe. "Usually if someone gets sick, we hear of it. Especially in this case, I am sure if they tested him and he had swine flu, we would all hear." So far, he had not heard of any cases.
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