Food Safety Conference ends with a call to establish federal system to deal with food-borne diseases

Ahmed Al Ali during his presentation

The sixth Dubai International Food Safety Conference concluded on Tuesday, with a call to establish a federal system that adopts the investigations regarding the food-borne diseases. It also called for developing the existing system in the Emirate of Dubai in terms of investigating diseases transmitted by food.

The two-day conference, organized by the Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality with the support of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), the largest association of professionals in the field of food safety, the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and the UAE University, was held on the sidelines of the Gulfood Exhibition at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibitions Centre from 28 February to 1 March.

The conference was held this year under the slogan, "Food Safety in Emerging Economies – What Is Achievable, Reliable and Sustainable." The event witnessed 11 main sessions and 6 workshops during the conference and 4 workshops before the conference, in addition to 5 symposia, and a number of scientific and technical sessions.

The conference also called for an immediate start of implementing the Person In Charge system in food establishments. It suggested creating an integrated database for each food through the classification and registration in a unified electronic system. It also urged to disseminate information on food imported from various parts of the world including the food rejected.

The conference suggested transfer of strategic control point for imported food into the country of origin. It also called for the unification of GCC and UAE standards with international standards regarding food safety and approving all regulations relating to food safety within and outside the country.

The conference suggested developing the capacity of food and medical laboratories to support the investigations regarding diseases transmitted by food. It urged to develop effective programs to raise awareness on food safety for all segments of the society and also to ensure the qualification and training of food dealers.

Other recommendations include creating strategic partnerships with key countries that export food to the UAE with regard to food safety, exchange of information between regulators in the GCC countries with regard to food safety and creating a regional centre for risk assessment of food.

On the final day of the conference, Ahmed Abdurrahman Al Ali, Head of Food Inspection Section, Dubai Municipality presented a paper titled “Foodborne Diseases Investigation and Surveillance System in Dubai.” The final day witnessed three scientific symposia and three workshops. The speakers in the conference were honoured and certificates were distributed to the participants at the end of the event.

The keynote speakers in the conference included food safety specialists and experts such as Bill Marler, who is one of the noted lawyers in cases involving food safety, Dr. Karen Hulebak, Chairman of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Dr. Lee Ann-Jaykus President, IAFP, David Tharp, Executive Director of IAFP, Dr. Ian Williams, Acting Chief, Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch, CDC, USA, Dr. Ezeddine Boutrif, Former Director, Food Safety and Quality Division, FAO, Dr. V. Prakash, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute, India, and Dr. Dennis J. Russell, Professor, American University of Sharjah.

A large number of professionals interested in developing and implementing food safety programs in various parts of the world participated in the conference. The conference was attended by more than 1,500 participants. 

Planmed introduces a new mobile CT scanner for extremities at ECR 2011

Planmed Verity is a new, mobile CT scanner especially suitable for accurate orthopedic imaging of the extremities. Planmed Verity provides fast and accurate, yet low-dose 3D imaging of peripheral skeletal fractures and disorders at the Point-of-Care. Compactly sized, the device can be easily sited in any existing X-ray room, side-by-side with other imaging systems.

“We are excited to expand our product portfolio into orthopedic imaging. Planmed Verity brings high-resolution, low-dose 3D imaging to the Point-of-Care in general X-ray rooms. There is no longer need to send extremity patients to conventional CT”, says Mr. Vesa Mattila, Vice President of Planmed Oy.

Planmed Verity has been in active research use at Helsinki University Central Hospital and Helsinki Medical Imaging Center (Töölö Hospital). “The system is easy to use and it has very good image quality at dose levels close to 2D radiographs,” says Docent Seppo Koskinen, MD, Ph.D.

Due to Planmed Oy’s innovation the clinicians can now achieve a volumetric 3D image for accurate and fast diagnosis with substantially lower radiation dose compared to conventional CT imaging. The scan only takes 20 seconds. During the scan, images are acquired using a short X-ray pulse enabling low radiation dose instead of continuous radiation.

Compact form and free-standing gantry provide easy access also for wheel-chair patients. Furthermore, bed-side imaging is enabled. For optimum patient comfort the Planmed Verity features an adaptable, soft-surfaced gantry with TearDropä shaped bore optimized for orthopedic imaging. The gantry and positioning trays are easily adjustable for imaging foot, ankle, knee, hand, wrist or elbow. Furthermore, special gantry movements allow a unique and completely new application, weight-bearing CT imaging.

Planmed Verity will be introduced to European radiology market at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2011 meeting (March 4 - 7, 2011) in Vienna, Austria. Planmed Verity will be available for sale in Q2/2011.

United Arab Emirates University Announces ‘UAEU Education & Research 2011’ Event

H. E. Dr Abdullah Al Khanbashi, Vice-Chancellor of UAEU and
Prof. Rory Hume, Provost UAEU during the press conference at Emirates Palace

United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has today announced it will be displaying its educational and research capabilities in a high profile event under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The event is to be held at the Emirates Palace on Sunday, 6th March 2011.

The Leadership of the United Arab Emirates has set out its vision for the Nation to structure growth over the coming years. This vision is set out in a number of documents including the UAE 2021 Vision which unites the Nation in responsibility, destiny, knowledge and prosperity, and the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. In response, UAEU has specifically aligned its research strategy with the economic and social development of the Nation.

The UAEU Education & Research 2011 event is the culmination of UAEU’s work in recent years to increase substantially its research contributions in areas of direct relevance to the Nation.

Today UAEU is playing a vital role in the continued growth of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, with research at the core of university life. UAEU has provided research of direct relevance to key government policy areas. These include water and petroleum resources, solar, wind and bio-fuel sources of energy, the causes and spread of global health pandemics and prevalent regional medical conditions.

Attendees will include diplomatic ambassadors from over 25 nations, senior UAE government representatives, and senior company representatives from the private sector. Attendees will be addressed by HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Chancellor of UAEU and the Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research in a key-note speech at the beginning of the evening. Following this, a video presentation featuring a short history of the university, and its current research projects will be screened. Throughout the evening, UAEU will be showcasing a sample of its unrivalled research for the benefit of the Nation in 100 case studies displayed on large posters around the Emirates Palace.

H. E. Dr Abdullah Al Khanbashi, Vice-Chancellor of UAEU, said:

“UAEU has taken decisive action over the last two years to increase its research output to provide research solutions of genuine value to the Nation, whilst continuing to educate and train our students to be the nation’s future leaders and problem-solvers.

“It will be an honour to welcome such prestigious guests to participate in our UAEU Education & Research 2011 event, through which we will have reached a greater audience to make clear our goals, achievements and potential with regard to research.

“As a result of the evening we will be aiming as an institution to establish further profitable research partnerships between UAEU and the UAE government, and private sector companies both in the UAE and further afield.”

UAEU is ranked as the number 1 Research University in the GCC; number 2 in the Arab World; 9th in the Muslim World and 372 globally. 

JEANRICHARD DIVERSCOPE IN TITANIUM NOW AVAILABLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

JEANRICHARD’s diving watch, the Diverscope Titanium is the brand’s first model to be entirely made of titanium, and water resistant to 300 meters. The watch is now available with select retailers across the Middle East.


JEANRICHARD’S diving watch, the Diverscope Titanium, is particularly light and robust. Indeed, its case is entirely made of titanium, metal of which the mass is 40% lighter to that of steel. Moreover, it is highly resistant to corrosion, especially in environments such as salt water.

Each one of the two crowns has a distinct function: the crown at 3 o’clock activates the hours, minutes and seconds hands as well as the date setting; the crown at 9 o’clock is linked intrinsically to diving, as it controls the positioning of the bidirectional bezel - adjusting this ring on the case serves to monitor a remaining dive time. The crowns are screwed and protected by crown-shields, contributing to the watch’s ergonomics on the wrist.

The Diverscope Titanium is equipped with JEANRICHARD’S in-house manufactured calibre, entirely developed and produced in its own workshops.

JEANRICHARD watches are available at select luxury retailers in the Middle East region including: Bahrain Jewellery Centre (Bahrain), Mouwad National Company (Jordan), Ghadah Jewellery (Salhiya Commercial Centre Kuwait), Chronora Boutique (Down Town Beirut Souks, Lebanon), Al Majed Jewellery (Doha, Qatar), Mouwad stores in Jeddah & Khobar and Al Fardan Outlets in the United Arab Emirates.

Reforms Must Focus on Public Interest, Insist Researchers at Dubai School of Government Talk

Joint DSG-World Bank Case Studies Series on Governance and Public Management Reform in Middle East Launched



Dubai-UAE: 1 March, 2011 – Throughout the Arab world, pressure is mounting on governments to revise their policies, improve governance and public services capabilities, open the door for private sector-led growth, and expand employment and open wider opportunities for the civil society’s involvement in public affairs. These new requirements are imperative for maintaining public interest, according to a panel of experts.

The comments were expressed at a forum titled ‘Governance Reform through Government-led Innovation: Pathways to Sustainable Progress’, hosted by the Dubai School of Government (DSG), a leading research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world.

The event also witnessed the launch of the joint DSG-World Bank Case Studies Series on Governance and Public Management Reform in the Middle East, the largest such compilation in the region. Presentations on cases titled ‘Enhancing and Managing Investment by Creating a One-Stop Shop in Cairo’ and ‘Strengthening Meritocracy and Human Resource Management in Lebanon’ were offered at the event. These cases, all drawn from the experience of nearly a dozen MENA countries, demonstrate that dynamic reforms are possible when the requisite political will and technical expertise are harnessed to bring about the needed change.





The panel of speakers at the forum included Khalid Al-Yahya, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Director of Governance and Public Administration Programme at DSG, Robert P. Beschel Jr., Lead Public Sector Specialist at The World Bank, and Simonida Subotic, writer of the case study on meritocracy in Lebanon and currently a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group.

Robert Beschel said: “While conducting such case studies, it is essential to examine the appropriate country-oriented context and approaches that would provide the best opportunity to effectively link a given country’s governance and public management reform agenda with its broader development strategy.

“The forum served as a great platform to discuss important and sensitive issues. It highlighted specific challenges facing Arab governance and public administration systems in achieving integrated and sustainable reform and how they were able to move forward across a range of issues, from those involving central government structures and systems to reforms in individual line departments.”

The joint DSG-World Bank Case Studies Series cover a broad array of issues, ranging from civil service reform and public financial management to policy coordination, private sector development, anti-corruption, decentralisation and networked service delivery.

Dr. Khalid Al-Yahya said: “Recent socio-economic and political changes have triggered a regional interest in reforming governance institutions and practices. Increased demands of citizens and changing requirements for integrating and succeeding in the new political environment have put mounting pressure on governments to revise their policies, improve their capacities, and streamline their operations.



“Calls for reform at all levels can no longer be ignored. Governments should and are now adjusting to a new role — one which serves the ‘people’ in a more citizen-oriented, fair, equitable, efficient, effective, and accountable manner. Such a role will also help in creating a solid infrastructure to support investment and economic activity, providing employment opportunities and fairer distribution of resources, while enforcing the rule of law.”



Dr. Al-Yahya added: “It is essential for DSG as a teaching and research institution to commence a project that examines and highlights reform issues, especially on some of the most important countries in the region in terms of economy. The joint case studies series with the World Bank highlight the processes, changes and impacts that these experiences have generated, emphasizing the issues and challenges confronting senior public sector officials seeking to implement reform.”



Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the Dubai School of Government is committed to the creation of knowledge, and dissemination of global best practices in the Arab world. The school conducts various programmes that seek to enhance the region's capacity for effective public policies.

IWC LAUNCHES A NEW WEB SITE

IWC Schaffhausen has launched a completely revamped Web site that showcases the full collection of IWC timepieces through detailed photos and interactive elements that let users experience IWC know-how virtually. The site is beautifully designed and incorporates HTML5, so it is fully functional on the iPad and other mobile devices. This technology provides an excellent foundation for continued innovation.

iwc.com embodies the subtle, elegant aesthetic that serious collectors have always admired about IWC Schaffhausen watches. A fitting showcase for the full collection of exquisite IWC timepieces, the site offers detailed photos and interactive elements to let users experience the know-how of IWC virtually. Furthermore, it offers a diverse array of stunning imagery and content that goes beyond familiar watch-lover territory. And for the first time ever, online visitors will be able to enjoy content from IWC’s renowned WATCH International magazine.

The site allows visitors to explore IWC watches and calibers in-depth. Detailed information and images are also presented on a range of topics including the IWC Museum, IWC partnerships such as that with the Cousteau Society, IWC watchmaking craftsmanship, the new Santoni straps, and many more. 

Avaya Extends Network Virtualization to the Campus

Steve Bandrowczak,
VP & GM, Avaya Data
Solutions

Avaya Delivers Latest Milestone in Data Networking Strategy; Simplifies Deployment of Next-Generation Collaboration Applications

Dubai, UAE – Avaya, a global leader in enterprise communications systems, software and services, today announced that it is extending the capabilities of its Avaya Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture (Avaya VENA) beyond the data center to the campus network. This marks a significant milestone in Avaya’s data networking strategy and delivers the virtualization capabilities of Avaya VENA to the company’s Ethernet Routing Switch (ERS) 8800 and 8600 products.

Avaya VENA simplifies the enterprise network, helping organizations streamline the deployment of cloud-based services and improve the delivery of always-on content. It brings network virtualization and IEEE Shortest Path Bridging (802.1aq) to the campus, enabling Avaya ERS 8800 and 8600 customers to install, provision and manage real-time applications and services in minutes rather than days. The capabilities of Avaya VENA are available immediately to new ERS 8800 and 8600 customers. Existing customers whose platforms support Release 7.1 can upgrade by means of a simple software update.

“Avaya VENA helps CIOs say yes to more devices, better applications and enhanced services,” said Steve Bandrowczak, vice president and general manager, Avaya Data Solutions. “It eliminates old-world constraints and limitations, simplifying the enterprise network from end to end. Avaya VENA significantly reduces customer time to service, allows enterprises to quickly and easily deploy next-generation applications, and lets organizations of all sizes better meet their business needs.”

“Avaya is executing on its vision of making VENA an architecture that can be deployed end-to-end; from the data center, to the campus and ultimately to the wiring closet and the branch office. VENA gives Avaya a unique position in the market, enabling network virtualization across the whole enterprise, not just the data center,” said Rohit Mehra, director of Enterprise Communications Infrastructure, IDC. “Network management will be one of the most critical elements of network virtualization, and Avaya’s focus on delivering the tools to configure, manage, and troubleshoot the virtualized network will differentiate Avaya in this market.”

For Customers: Faster Deployments With Fewer Complications

Avaya VENA simplifies the deployment of next-generation applications and services by providing the critical network infrastructure needed to create private clouds. Whereas traditional deployments require significant manual provisioning, Avaya VENA enables simple, one-touch provisioning across the network. It helps increase network performance and efficiency, ensures resilience and reliability, and provides users with access to an always-on service that empowers communication anywhere, anytime, without interruption.

About Avaya Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture

Avaya VENA delivers the next-generation enterprise network. It features a Virtual Services Fabric, built on the IEEE Shortest Path Bridging (802.1aq) standard, which acts as a single, unified backbone—allowing traffic to take the most optimal path through the network. Virtual Service Networks run across this fabric, providing an on-demand infrastructure that reduces costs, significantly improves time to service, and can virtually eliminate human error. It optimizes connections between application servers and end users, and allows for secure end-to-end traffic separation. Avaya VENA provides simplified provisioning, network authentication, better utilization of network resources, and streamlined tools for network management.

About Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch 8800 and 8600

The Avaya ERS 8800 and ERS 8600 are resilient, flexible, and highly scalable modular Ethernet switching solutions that deliver versatile network virtualization for exceptional value. Unlike conventional ASIC-based hardware, the Avaya ERS 8800 and ERS 8600 feature unique field programmable network processors for all Interface Modules. This allows them to maintain full hardware-based performance and receive software upgrades, such as Avaya VENA, which take advantage of new features and functionality.

About Avaya

Avaya is a global leader in enterprise communications systems. The company provides unified communications, contact centers, data solutions, and related services directly and through its channel partners to leading businesses and organizations around the world. Enterprises of all sizes depend on Avaya for state-of-the-art communications that improve efficiency, collaboration, customer service and competitiveness. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.