231 immigrants to Dubai with Aids spotted

Among the newcomers who applied for visas in the first nine months of this year, 231 people had AIDS; 600 people suffered from Hepatitis B, and 2,267 from tuberculosis, according to Dubai Health Authority Statistics. They were detected during medical tests that is mandatory for visa formalties, reported 'Al Bayan'. Maisa’a Al Bustani, Director, Department of Medical Fitness Services, DHA, said such cases could be dangerous to the community at large if not detected at the medical tests stage. She said 16 medical fitness centres in Dubai conducted 763,152 tests in first eight months this year compared to 705,000 medical tests carried out last year during the same period. Certain categories such as cooks, workers in nurseries, schools, beauty salons, barbers and drivers are subjected to tests for Hepatitis B, Syphilis, AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. Women coming to work as domestic help are put to pregnancy test as well. So also househelps who renew their visas will be tested for all the above. Maisa’a Al Bustani said the DHA plans to open three more new medical test centres next year apart from upgrading the existing ones. The Authority has opened a centre for VIPs at Al Safa in order to offer them privacy. It has launched a new service for residence visa applicants, wherein the papers will be processed within four hours at a cost of Dh690. The centres providing the quick service are located at Muhaisna and Satwa and wil, she added. There are also services wherein results can be got in 24 hours and 48 hours respectively.In the first eight months this year, 23,978 people have availed such service, while 5,263 people benefitted from Tawajod service. Tawajod service helps applicants save time as tests are carried out at the place where they reside within Dubai - be it home or office. Specialised staff will visit the applicants after they fill in an online request form on DHA website - www.dha.gov.ae. At least 70 people can apply on one application form. This helps mostly office goers who can save time and effort. And the results will be received in two days.