Elaf Group outlines key AH1N1 precautions as Hajj and Umrah season approaches

During the special forum held in the Nakheel Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Elaf President Ziyad Bin Mahfouz emphasized the company's utmost concern for the safety of its employees, customers and partners amidst the outbreak.

Dr. Monira Khaled Balhoumr, Community Medicine Consultant of the KSA Ministry of Health and Head of Health Education at the Jeddah Healthcare Department, headed discussions on the background, causes, and symptoms of the AH1N1 virus. Participants were informed of general precautions to be taken to avoid contracting the flu and measures to avoid the spread of the disease. They were also instructed on special safeguards against the outbreak during the period of Hajj and Umrah.

"The Hajj and Umrah period is very important to the Muslim community, but this year it also poses risks to people who are uninformed about and unprepared for the AH1N1 virus. We want to ensure that our employees and customers are highly knowledgeable about the steps they need to take to avoid contracting and spreading this flu. The season can still be celebrated safely and productively as long as we strictly follow health guidelines and keep constantly updated on developments related to the virus,"

said Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, President, Elaf Group.

The seminar commenced with an introductory speech by Mr. Mouhamad Zagzoog, Public Relations Manager of Elaf Group. The seminar is the latest among several initiatives undertaken by the Elaf Group to address the operational effects of the AH1N1 outbreak. The Group has also offered SR510,000 to support its Egyptian operators in face of the health crisis.

Elaf has been actively campaigning for hotels to inform their employees and customers on how they can better protect themselves against the health threat through seminars, meetings and special training modules.

The Elaf Group is a fully integrated organisation providing a complete line of hotel, travel, tourism, Hajj and Umrah services. Consistently named one of the top 100 corporations in Saudi Arabia, the Group capitalizes on its extensive Middle Eastern experience and expertise to constantly develop travel, tourism and hospitality services in key regional markets.