Kids Session - Hygiene Council- Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, 29th, July, 2010: – More than 20 local children today participated in a fun and interactive session to learn about the importance of hand hygiene. The kids’ session, organised by the Hygiene Council and Dettol, was held immediately after the results of the Hygiene Home Truths Study 2010 were revealed during the fifth annual Hygiene Council meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The session was headed by Prof. Tariq Madani, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Advisor to His Excellency the Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prof. Madani involved the children in a number of fun activities such as games and team quizzes with colorful rewards.

One of the activities found to be the most interesting for kids was the Hygiene Hand Globe. The hygiene globe device exposed the germs on children’s hands before and after hand washing.

“We are very glad and proud to have held such a session. All the children learnt about good hygiene practices in a fun and entertaining atmosphere. We gave them proof of the existence of harmful germs using the Hygiene Hand Globe, and taught them how to destroy these germs. The children at today’s session will set an example for their peers and help them to learn and practice proper hygiene techniques.

“The Hygiene Council is  committed to holding these kids’ sessions as millions of children around the world die every year from preventable diseases. We can help diminish that number by providing children with the proper educational tools they need to protect themselves,” said Prof. Madani.

Prof. Tariq Madani

Riyadh, 29th, July, 2010: – The results of the international, regional and local Hygiene Home Truths Study 2010, were revealed today during the fifth annual Hygiene Council meeting held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study, supported and organized by Dettol, showed that bathroom seals, the insides of fridges, general purpose kitchen towels and kettle handles are some of the most highly contaminated hygiene hotspots in homes worldwide and especially in Saudi Arabia – and are caused by ineffective cleaning.

The Hygiene Council study, which was carried out in nine countries across the globe including Saudi Arabia, illustrated that it is not necessarily how frequently cleaning takes place that matters, but rather targeting the right areas with the right cleaning methods.

According to the study, bathroom seals are the dirtiest site in homes worldwide, with over two thirds (70%) failing bacterial tests, and over half (56%) failing mould tests, despite more than a third (37%) appearing clean. This is a concern, as evidence from existing studies shows a relationship between the presence of household mould or damp and an increase in the incidence of health problems such as fungal infections, respiratory illness, asthma and allergies. ,  ,  ,  

The inside of fridges came a close second to bathroom seals in the contaminated hygiene hotspots stakes, with nearly half (46%) of households worldwide failing bacterial contamination tests and more than two fifths (44%) of households showing mould build up. Fridge temperatures were found to be unsatisfactory in many instances, allowing bacteria to grow to high numbers. Fridges were also found to be one of the least regularly items in the home, especially in terms of using disinfectant products such as Dettol.

In Saudi Arabian homes, the dirtiest items were bathroom seals and fridge interiors with nine out of ten (90%) of both areas found to be unsatisfactory or heavily contaminated – well above the global average.  This finding was particularly surprising given the fact that the same number of people - nine out of ten householders (90%) - said that they cleaned their fridge at least once a week, with eight out of ten (80%) claiming to clean their bath or shower daily.

Furthermore, the results of the consumer survey on home hygiene in Saudi Arabia showed that four out of every five respondents said that they encountered mould in their households; with the majority of mould found in bathrooms, kitchens and around sinks.

Professor John Oxford, chairman of the Hygiene Council and Professor of Virology at Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, a guest speaker at today’s event, said, “Bathroom seals are the dirtiest sites in Saudi Arabian homes, as they are worldwide. Even though surfaces can often appear clean to the naked eye, it is important that people understand that mould spores in areas such as bathroom seals can have a detrimental effect on their health. This means that precautions need to be taken to reduce mould spores just as with as other bacteria that people might be more aware of.”

General purpose kitchen towels were found to be unsatisfactory or unacceptably dirty in more than a third (36%) of cases worldwide. Although more than four in ten (42%) respondents said they changed the kitchen towel daily, almost three in ten (29%) washed it below 60°C, too low a temperature to kill bacteria, especially when disinfectants such as Dettol are not added. Astonishingly, 1% of respondents said they never changed the kitchen towel.

“The study results show that certain areas in our homes are being neglected when it comes to hygiene,” said Professor Tariq Madani, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Advisor to His Excellency the Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and guest speaker at the Hygiene Council meeting. “What is apparent is that people do clean, but not necessarily effectively enough by targeting specific areas with a method that works. For example, cleaning with a dirty cloth, wrong product or not thoroughly washing hands will simply spread bacteria and mould around the home, rather than killing harmful organisms. Practicing good hygiene through targeted cleaning is something we can all do to break the chain of infection.”

Globally, kettle handles were dirtier than computer keyboards (with 22% vs. 19% failing bacterial tests).  In Saudi Arabia these items were the third and fourth dirtiest items in the home, with more than three times international average (75%) found to be unsatisfactory or heavily contaminated. 

Worldwide, the cleanest surface tested was the push chair with only 6% failing bacterial tests.  The hypothesis behind this figure is that parents, especially mothers, are usually very careful about keeping items that are in their child’s surroundings very clean and regularly disinfected.

Effective cleaning of surfaces in homes is particularly important because it was also shown that the flu virus can remain infectious for up to 24 hours on stainless steel and plastic surfaces, and for up to 48 hours on wooden surfaces.

Hamptons MENA expands Egypt office to Uptown Cairo

Cairo, Egypt; July 28, 2010: Hamptons MENA, a premier property services company with a strong geographic presence in the Middle East and North Africa region, has cemented its Egypt operations with the opening of its full-fledged office in Uptown Cairo.

A master-planned community developed by Emaar Misr, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, Uptown Cairo is described as the new downtown of Cairo, with easy access to all commercial, business and governmental nerve-centres of the city.

As part of the expansion plans for Egypt, Hamptons has relocated its office, previously in the Mohandessin area in Giza City, to Uptown Cairo. The office, from its central location near Mokattam Hills, showcases a strong portfolio of projects including prestigious projects throughout Egypt and a wide range of ready rental and sales properties in Cairo.

A spokesperson of Hamptons MENA said: “The expansion of our Egypt office to Uptown Cairo underscores our strategy to focus on the regional markets, and offer our customers a wider portfolio of projects. By relocating to Uptown Cairo, a residential and commercial hub that is fast taking shape, we will be closer to our customers and it will help us strengthen our footprint in the Egyptian market by offering world-class property services.”

A 4 million sq m development, Uptown Cairo is located some 200 metres above sea level offering a refreshing lifestyle environment. The first homes in the community are scheduled for hand over later this year. The Hamptons office will be part of this integrated community with world-class residences, commercial offices, retail and hospitality amenities in close proximity.

In addition to offering Emaar Misr properties, Hamptons also has strong partnerships with other developers with projects located around Cairo, the North Coast, and also in the Red Sea vicinity including Sukhna, Sharm Al Sheikh and Hurghada areas.

The office will offer the full spectrum of Hamptons services including sale and leasing of primary and secondary properties in Egypt and other markets, property management, mortgage advisory, valuation and research services.

Visitors to the Hamptons MENA office in Uptown Cairo can evaluate the range of properties including Uptown Cairo, Marassi and Mivida – three of Emaar’s prestigious lifestyle projects in the country – as well as a strong portfolio of other leading developments and ready properties in Egypt. They can call + 201 0431 6316 or email: info@hamptonseg.com for more details.

PII Technology Selected to Support Australian Natural Gas Pipeline Security

PERTH, AUSTRALIA; July 27, 2010: PII Pipeline Solutions, a GE Oil & Gas and Al Shaheen joint venture, has been selected to help improve the long-term security of two of Australia’s most important natural gas pipelines.

Securing the Dampier-to-Bunbury Pipeline

The 1,400-kilometer Dampier-to-Bunbury Pipeline (DBN) is one of Western Australia’s key energy supply assets. The 26-inch DBN pipeline is owned by Dampier-to-Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP) of Perth and delivers gas from the Carnarvon Basin in the North West Shelf to industrial, commercial and residential customers in the city of Perth and the surrounding region.

In the awarded contract, PII is supplying PipeView TM Integrity, its advanced suite of pipeline data monitoring and management software for deployment on the DBN pipeline through Contract Resources, its Australian operational partner on the project.

Michael Bellamy, General Manager - PII Pipeline Solutions said: “We are very pleased to partner with Contract Resources in supporting the energy supply security priorities of DBNGP with our reliable pipeline integrity technology.”

In May 2010, teams from PII’s pipeline data management Center of Excellence in Mission, Kansas, U.S. began implementing the project for the Dampier-to-Bunbury Pipeline. The two software modules include data-loading alignment and condition-assessment applications. 

Designing Custom Solution for Moomba-to-Sydney Gas Pipeline

In addition, PII recently signed a three-year contract to deploy one of its newest pipeline inspection tool - the EmatScan CD - to inspect nine (9), 150-km segments of the Moomba-to-Sydney Gas Pipeline, owned and operated by APA Group, Australia’s largest natural gas infrastructure business.

The Moomba-to-Sydney Gas Pipeline is 2,029 km long and links the Cooper Basin gas fields at Moomba with distribution networks in Sydney and regional New South Wales. The pipeline is one of two pipelines that deliver gas to the Sydney area.

PII will use the new Third Generation EmatScan tool to perform an estimated two inspection runs each year over the three-year contract period for enhanced crack detection and analysis, as part of APA’s pipeline integrity management programme.

PII’s Bellamy added: “Multi-year inspection contracts, like the APA project, allow for a more seamless comparison of data from multiple inspections over a period of time. This approach enables us to support operators with more effective monitoring of potential crack growth rates and devise cost-effective mitigation plans.”

Currently available for 30 and 36-inch lines, PII is developing a customized EmatScan CD to navigate the 34-inch Moomba-to-Sydney line. The tool is scheduled for launch in the Winter 2010-11. PII is leveraging project management and engineering resources from its facility in Stutensee, Germany for the APA program.

PII previously used its pipeline inspection technology for DBNGP and APA inspections. In 2009, APA was one of the world’s first operators to deploy PII’s latest generation of MagneScan MFL inspection tools.

July 25, 2010

The Municipality of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia has invested USD 5 million towards an initiative called ‘Emergency Call Centre 940’, which allows local citizens and expatriates to voice out their complaints and suggestions by calling a 24-hour hotline number (940), in a collaborative effort to promote the efficiency of public services. Underscoring its leading position in the Kingdom, Tripp Lite, a world leading manufacturer of power protection and connectivity equipment, has delivered its industry-leading 20kVA modular Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to ensure continuous and stable power supply for the multimillion dollar public service facility. The manufacturer’s KSA-based partner 2P for Telecommunication and Information Technology has undertaken the implementation, which was completed in a span of three months.

The main requirement of the project was to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the call centre, which is crucial for the facility to provide round-the-clock accessibility and quick response. In addition to delivering its 20kVA modular UPS, Tripp Lite also worked closely with the experienced technical team from 2P who installed the system ensuring that the proper guidelines were followed and that the deadline was met. At present, there are a total of 46 call centre agents operating seamlessly through improved telephone lines provided by STC and state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, which all rely on Tripp Lite’s industry-leading UPS to ensure continuous operations on a 24/7 basis, even in the event of power interruptions.

“The significant impact of this new initiative of the Riyadh Municipality on the everyday life of the city’s residents is a testament to its leaders’ foresight and confidence in the potential of using advanced methods in the pursuit of economic and social growth, and we are proud to be a part of this outstanding effort,” said Vipin Sharma, VP of EEMEA & India Sales, Tripp Lite. “The ‘Emergency Call Centre 940’ is one of our most important projects in KSA through our partnership with 2P Telecommunication and Information Technology, and our involvement in this pioneering step is a testament to our strength as a supplier of power protection equipment and our leading and reputable position, which has earned the trust and approval of the local government officials in Riyadh.”

In addition to the ‘Emergency Call Centre 940,’ Tripp Lite has been involved with various high-profile projects across the region. As the first company to manufacture a UPS system specifically designed for desktop PCs, Tripp Lite also offers products that provide increased reliability and protection to PC workstations, network file servers, telephone systems, point-of-sale terminals, audio/video systems and laboratory equipment.

“The potential of this project to drive the Kingdom’s continuing socio-economic growth makes this implementation all the more important and we are very pleased that the Riyadh Municipality has entrusted us with this very important task. Our involvement also demonstrates our strength in terms of providing critical power support for vital public facilities, as well as the significant impact of technology in developing civic services, which ultimately is one of the key drivers of an economy’s growth,” concluded Boutros S. Frangieh, VP for Business Development & Operations, 2P.

Established and headquartered in Riyadh, 2P is considered as one of the leading private companies in KSA. As a result of its pioneering approach to delivering IT and telecommunication services using up-to-date technologies through a highly experienced team of professionals, the company has been named as one of the 100 fastest growing companies, as well as one of the ‘companies striking attention’ in KSA. Since its inception in 2004, 2P’s customers have increased twentyfold, covering various public and private sectors, thereby leading to the expansion of its business and the achievement of its goals through both local and international partners.

July 24, 2010

Monther Al Harthi

Private companies have moved to support the ‘Kilana’ campaign recently launched by Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Prince of Riyadh Region and President of the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charity for the care of patients with renal failure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The Kilana campaign, which aims to help patients with kidney failure, has also generated strong support from the public sector with up to 113 Saudi government institutions and civil organisations participating in the campaign.

Al Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd., a leading producer of dairy products and fruit juices in KSA and the largest juice manufacturer in the Middle East, has likewise offered its support by providing SAR 500,000 worth of brochures designed to raise awareness about the campaign. Furthermore, Al Rabie has committed to incorporate campaign messages in the packaging of its products that are being distributed all over Saudi Arabia.

Monther Al Harthi, CEO of Al Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd, said: “We are firmly committed to adhere to our corporate social responsibility and actively participate in charitable programs in KSA. In this regard, we have extended full support to the Kilana campaign by providing SAR 500,000 worth of campaign materials and by educating our own employees about the importance of supporting the Kilana initiative. Moreover, Al Rabie products, which are being distributed in all markets across the country, also carry campaign messages and we strongly believe that this move will help raise greater awareness and generate more support from a much wider segment of the society. Our participation in the campaign has been greatly satisfying, inspiring us to become even more actively involved in initiatives that benefit the society.”

Through the Kilana campaign, the public can help patients with kidney failure by sending a blank SMS to number 5060 through the STC, Mobily or Zain network, or commit to a monthly pledge of SAR 12 by sending “No.1″ to the same number. Proceeds of the campaign are being used to purchase locking devices, pharmaceutical and medical supplies and other essential equipment in treating patients with kidney failure. Kilana also encourages and supports scientific research and prevention programs against kidney disease, as well as organ donation programs.

Al Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd. continues to implement its plans and strategies to provide good health for all through its products. The company has participated in several food fairs and trade exhibitions and has launched numerous social programs as part of its commitment to serve the community.

This web-based tool will allow travel agents to update their customers with their latest travel itinerary via SMS. Travel agents will be able to alert travellers on important travel details, including travel itineraries, e-tickets, flight information, Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, and any changes to the Ticketing Time Limit (the date by which a booked ticket must be issued) through their mobile phones. Amadeus SMS is fully integrated into the Amadeus Selling Platform, allowing travel agents to quickly generate traveller information directly from the Amadeus PNR database.

Amadeus Syria, who launched its direct operations in January 2009 is a joint partnership between Amadeus and Syrian Arab Airlines, and today has a market share of over 70 percent.

“At Amadeus our focus is to understand the travellers’ changing preferences and develop solutions that help travel agents respond to these changes efficiently.  Amadeus SMS solution is one such product that has been developed with the travel agents and their customers in mind. The new SMS solution corresponds closely with the trend of technology convergence on mobile devices, and we are pleased to be the first to introduce this concept in Syria,” said Mazen Kokash, General Manager, Amadeus Syria.

Additionally, Saudi Arabian Airlines has migrated to the next generation Amadeus Altéa customer management solution and Amadeus e-commerce solutions as part of a long-term IT partnership. The objective of the partnership is to improve the traveller experience through enhanced recognition, speed up passenger processing with greater automation and drive more sales and operational efficiencies.

Following last month’s migration, the airline has already registered a significant increase in bookings with online sales now representing over 20 per cent of total bookings which shows a healthy growth on previous figures.

“Our partnership with leading players in the travel industry demonstrates the confidence they have in our solutions, of offering specialized services and helping our partners achieve greater productivity and efficiency through Amadeus,” added Mazen.

Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia

FARNBOROUGH, England, 21 July, 2010: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced the selection of the CFM56-5B engine to power its 44 Airbus A320 family aircraft order announced in 2007.  This new engine selection, which will more than double the airlines CFM56-5B powered A320 fleet, is valued at more than US$620 million at list price.

Together with the engine selection, Air Arabia also signed a multi-year Rate per Flight Hour (RPFH) service agreement for its CFM56-5B fleet.  The RPFH is a comprehensive maintenance program customized to Air Arabia specific needs under which CFM guarantees the maintenance cost on a dollar per engine flight hour basis.
 
“Air Arabia enjoys a long track record of operational excellence,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. “Our fleet growth strategy and the partners we work with, contributes to maintaining this record. We look forward for a long partnership with CFM in powering our new aircraft order”.

Air Arabia became a CFM customer in 2003 when the airline started operations with a CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320.  The airline, which is the winner of the A320 Family Operational Excellence Award by Airbus, currently operates a total fleet of 23 CFM56-5B-powered A320s and the airlines confirmed order of 44 A320 aircraft is schedule to begin delivery later this year.  Air Arabia, which serves more than 60 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, was ranked first on Aviation Week’s TPC chart as 2009 world’s best LCC.

“We are obviously very pleased by Air Arabia’s selection of the CFM56-5B engine to power its A320 fleet,” said Eric Bachelet, president and CEO of CFM. “We have established a great relationship with the airline as an operator and are really looking forward to working more closely with them through the RPFH agreement to service and support its growing fleet.”

CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran group) and GE. CFM, the world’s leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines, has delivered approximately 21,000 engines to date.

Etihad Finalizes GEnx Engine and OnPoint Solution Services Agreement

Farnborough, England; July 21, 2010: Emirates has ordered 30 GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The engine order, including spare engines, is valued at US$2 billion list price. Deliveries will begin in late 2011.
 
Emirates has also signed a 12-year OnPointSM solution services agreement for the maintenance and overhaul of its GE90-115B engines. The contract is worth more than US$1 billion over its life.
 
“The GE90-115B engine offers significantly improved fuel efficiency, lower noise levels and reduced emissions, which Emirates requires as we continue to build our fleet of long-haul aircraft for the future,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.
 
“Emirates is the largest operator of GE90-powered Boeing 777 aircraft,” said David Joyce, president and chief executive officer of GE Aviation. “Today’s order is another affirmation of the trust Emirates has in the aircraft-engine combination, and we look forward to ensuring the GE90 engine continues to provide outstanding performance to the airline.”
 
Emirates and GE Aviation have established a strong relationship. As one of the world’s fastest growing international airlines, Emirates operates eight CFM56-powered A340s and 65 GE90-powered 777-300ERs/-200LRs, with additional GE90-powered 777 aircraft and GEnx-powered Boeing 747-8 aircraft on order. The airline is also the largest customer for the Airbus A380 and the Engine Alliance’s GP7200 engines with 90 A380s on order.
 
At 115,000 pounds of thrust, the GE90-115B engine includes such performance-enhancing features as three-dimensional aerodynamic (3-D aero) compressor and wide-chord, swept composite fan blades for greater efficiency. The dual annular combustor emits no more than 40 percent of the hydrocarbons allowed by today’s international standards.

The GE90-115B engine has proven to be tremendously popular with customers around the world, with more than 1,100 engines being sold. Snecma of France, Avio SpA. of Italy, and IHI of Japan are revenue-sharing participants in the GE90 program. The GE90-115B is part of GE’s “ecomagination” product portfolio — GE’s commitment to develop new, cost-effective technologies that enhance customers’ fuel efficiencies and operating performance.

OnPoint solutions are customized service agreements tailored to the operational and financial needs of each customer for any size fleet. These agreements are designed to help lower the customers’ cost of ownership and maximize the use of their assets.
 

21 July 2010, Manama:  Leading education experts from the Middle East are among an elite list set to address a global education summit in Bahrain this October, it was announced today.

The second occasion of the annual event – initiated by His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain and Chairman of the Kingdom’s Economic Development Board (EDB) – runs from 8-10 October.  Joining speakers from Harvard University, the European Commission, 10 Downing Street and Microsoft at the Education Project 2010 are: 

 HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
 Azza El-Shinnawy, Education Lead, Public Sector, Gulf, Microsoft, UAE
 Mona Mourshed, Partner Middle East, McKinsey & Company, UAE
 Natasha Ridge, Research Fellow, Dubai School of Government, UAE
 Ralph Tabberer, Chief School Officer, GEMS, UAE
 Osama Obeidat, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, Jordan Education Initiative, Jordan
 Mary Tadros, Educational Advisor, Queen Rania Teacher Academy, Jordan
 Danah Dajani, Director, Madrasati Initiative, Jordan
 Huda Al-Ghoson, General Manager, Training and Development, Aramco, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the EDB which is organising the event, said: “Education is the single most important factor in bringing stability, productivity and prosperity to all societies.  Our goal in Bahrain in establishing the Education Project was to bring together an international community of educators.  To have such experts from the region on board – to offer their expertise in identifying practical solutions to address the gap in the global education system – will help to ensure a platform from which to further inspire positive change.”

Despite increased government spending, education outcomes worldwide have declined over time.  The Education Project was established to share best practice and create a practical approach that educators can follow to make a difference.  Hundreds of professionals from 36 countries joined together last year.

Ralph Tabberer, Chief School Officer, GEMS (UAE) returns to the event having last year commented: “It is barely ten years since small groups of highly-motivated academics and scientists had to get together in small groups, alone and unheard, to call for greater interest in global warming and green solutions. Now, there is no world leader who dares ignore the issues. We need to make the same transformation in our thinking about education. Let us debate not just where education needs to go, but how we put this top of the agenda for every government, worldwide.”

The event is free to attend for educational professionals from all sectors as well as from public and private sector institutions with an interest in developing new models and standards in education.  Entry is by invitation only; for more information and to register online visit: www.educationprojectbahrain.org