No H1N1 virus-free certificates required - WAM

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Health has denied that it demanded H1N1 virus-free health certificates from expatriates returning to work in the UAE.

Dr. Ali Bin Shukur, the Director General of the Ministry of Health and head of the technical health committee said on Tuesday that the supreme supervising committee had not issued any decision to ask returning expatriates for health certificates to prove that they are not infected with the H1N1 virus.

Shukur added that the news was completely false.

He emphasized that the committee presided by Dr. Hanif Hassan, the Minister of Health, abides by the standards and criteria set by the International Health Organization for combating the H1N1 virus.

Shukur also said that the committee has not taken any decision to install cameras in malls around the UAE, and that this issue has not been on the schedules of the supreme committee nor the technical health committee.

He added that the specialised departments in the UAE are studying the implementation of an awareness campaign in cooperation with other departments around the country, especially the Ministry of Education and the Islamic Affairs Authority.

He said that the Ministry of Health deals in complete transparency in all matters related to the H1N1 virus infections, because of its keenness to preserve the safety and health of the community.

The ministry is updating the public with the latest developments through weekly communiqués every Monday or through the television or radio interviews which the concerned officials conduct with the media in the country, he said.