News Paper Article on Hajj Updates

Skip The Haj, MoH Advises Cronically Ill Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 August 2009 06:33 Written by Rachel Thien Wednesday, 26 August 2009 05:55 Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Health yesterday advised people suffering from chronic ailments to avoid going for the Haj this year in the wake of the Influenza A (HON) pandemic. In a press release issued based on the questions posed by the public and answered by doctors of the RIPAS H1N1 Committee, the ministry said performing the Haj involved a lot of physical challenges which could ultimately weaken the immune system even of a fit and healthy person, making him or her more prone to the H1N1 infection. It said that the reality was that the H1N1 pandemic posed a real danger to pilgrims. That is why the ministry has taken a decision to restrict people with high risk factors from going on the Haj. To whether there was a good medical reason why some members of a family, friends and relatives were not allowed to go on the Haj this year, the ministry responded by saying that evidence had shown that many people who returned from the Haj in the past confirmed that they had caught some kind of respiratory infection. "From what we know so far, evidence shows that between 50 per cent (and) 80 per cent of patients requiring hospital treatment and sometimes intensive care treatment were those who were in a vulnerable group such as pregnant women, children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes and epilepsy," said the ministry. As for children, the ministry stressed that as those under 12 fell into a high-risk group if they contracted H1N1, they should not be allowed to go. Meanwhile, in a response to a question by a patient who had a kidney transplant operation asking for reasons why he was told he could not go on the Haj, the ministry said that people with kidney (renal) transplants who were usually on special medications, suppressed their immune system. "This is the reason why they are at high risk of getting infection especially from H1N1, and therefore it is better for them to delay going until perhaps we (the ministry) have an effective vaccine against this H1N1 virus which can help to protect them," said the ministry. A patient with an asthma condition who has used an inhaler from time to time asked whether he faced a risk in going on the Haj. The ministry responded by saying that regardless of a patient being asthmatic, adults and children with asthma were no more likely to contract H1N1 than the rest of the population. "However, if they do get the virus, they could become critical if their condition was not well-managed. The infection will trigger an asthmatic attack which can be very serious," said the ministry. In addition, the ministry stated that during the outbreak of H1N1 in New York City, 41 per cent of patients who needed admission to hospitals were patients with asthma, and that a significant number of those died from H1N1. The ministry said: "This is the group that needs to be monitored closely since they fall into the high risk group and should therefore delay going for Haj this year until we have an effective vaccine against H1N1." A concerned patient asked the ministry why he was told not to go on the Haj on the grounds of his epilepsy condition, saying that although he had seizures approximately once a year, he was told by his specialist neurologist that he was fit to go if he took his medications on time and had enough rest. In response, the ministry said that the Haj was both physically and mentally challenging even under normal circumstances. The ministry advised patients suffering from epilepsy not to go on the Haj this year as the aforementioned additional challenges could cause even more seizures. "This year, the situation for epileptics has been made even harder with the H1N1 pandemic. There is a real danger for epileptics who catch HIN1 because fever can make seizures much worse," said the ministry. The ministry added that people with epilepsy were not allowed to go to this year's Haj because it could be "life-threatening". "If this (fever) were to happen when your body is tired and (is) already prone to increasing seizures, this could really be life-threatening," said the ministry. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

News Paper Article on Hajj Updates

Muslims Advised To Curtail Umrah, Hajj Journeys Amid H1N1 Woes

Written by Farah Ahmadnawi Friday, 03 July 2009 09:03

Bandar Seri Begawan - The experts in International Health held a meeting in Jeddah to advice the elderly, pregnant women, children and patients to skip Hajj and Umrah this year. This is aimed at the safety of the pilgrims and as a precaution from the rise of swine flu around the world.

According to the official spokesman of the Saudi Health Ministry, the Ministry of Health has provided all the preparations in the event of an actual outbreak during Hajj.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that 77 out of 89 recorded swine flu cases have recovered after completing the treatment. With the newly detected cases, they are able to return to their normal lives with a stable health condition in which they still have to undergo quarantine according to the procedures until they are confirmed to be completely recovered.

The Ministry of Health's spokesman emphasised the need to focus on the Information Technology and Monitoring and tracing devices for the infected cases since they have been provided with sufficient quantities including the laboratory equipments, laboratories and health sectors under the request of the Ministry. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Public Laud Haj Travel Advisory Over H1N1

Written by Fitri Shahminan Thursday, 20 August 2009 06:37

Bandar Seri Begawan - The public have lauded the recent move by the relevant authorities in light of their advisory on the postponement of the Haj and Umrah trips for intending pilgrims who fall under the high-risk group of contracting Influenza A (H1N1).

"It is absolutely a very timely action implemented by the relevant authorities,...prevention is better than cure," said Hj Hamdani Hj Alias, the former assistant head of the Counseling and Career Section under the Schools Department, the Ministry of Education.

The retiree, who is now a part-time motivational speaker, said recently that the high-risk group should foresee and understand the complication it may cause if they insist to proceed with their trips.

"The number of people there was massive...these high risk groups have weaker immune system, and in these sort of mass congregations, rapid spread is certainly possible," said Hj Hamdani, who recently returned from an Umrah trip.

A senior reservations sales agent at Royal Brunei Airlines, Nurlelawati Roslan, described the authority's decision as the "best move", as she highlighted the chances of the affected age groups to contract the virus are higher.

"They should understand that it (the postponement) was introduced because of the recent outbreak of H1N1 and it's for their own good too so they should be grateful instead," she said, adding that she certainty agreed with the postponement advisory.

Another member of the public who agreed with the advisory was the general manager of Kiulap Plaza Hotel who commented that it was a prudent decision made by the authorities.

"I believe that most people can accept but there may also be complaints from those who cannot accept the decision," she said, adding that any complaints on the decision would be unnecessary.

The general manager also advised the affected group to have faith in Allah the Almighty (Tawakal) as opportunities to carry out obligations as a Muslim are always there, thus they should also be patient.

Rasimoon Hj Adinin, head of Human Resource and Corporate Department of Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, informed that the haj travel and umrah operator has already started collecting deposits for the trip and the exact numbers of those fall under the high-risk category could not be confirmed as of yet. "Of course we are await of the situation but we advise them to be calm and accept the decision as well as understand that it is introduced for their own good," he said, hoping that all would go well for the performing pilgrims this year.

Another major haj and umrah travel operator, Titian Travel and Tours through its managing director, Hj Sabli Hj Arsad, said that the company would inform intending pilgrims in the affected group and hoped that they would understand the benefit of the decision introduced by the relevant authorities.

"Those who fall under the high-risk category are those who would contract the virus easily, so they should understand that the government is taking care of the people and be grateful that their health conditions are top priority here," said Acting Director of Haj Department Pg Hj Mustapa Pg Hj Aliuddin.

He told The Brunei Times that they are expecting more than 300 intending pilgrims under the high-risk group who would be postponing their haj trip this year.The department, under the advisory of the Ministry of Health, has recently announced that high-risk pilgrims were to postpone their haj and umrah trips this year to avoid the spread of the pandemic virus.

The category of people who fall under the high risk group is children under the age of 12, senior citizens aged above 65, pregnant women and those with chronic diseases.

-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Pictures from AGM 2009

Annual General Meeting 2009

DHSB Chairman of the Board Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yusoff bin Haji Ismail

21 August 2009, On the 08th of August 2009, Darussalam Holdings Sendirian Berhad held it's Annual General Meeting for the year 2009. The meeting was held at Darussalam Holdings Sendirian Berhad office at Unit B1, Setia Kenangan Complex Kiulap in the As Salam Conference Room. Present during the meeting were the Chairman and Members of the Board of Darussalam Holdings Sendirian Berhad. Also present were representatives from the external auditors as well as the corporate secretary.

Learning & Development

20 July 2009, In line with DHSB's vision through it's Human Resource & Corporate to produce effective and performance oriented workforce as well as creating an environment of continuous learning, DHSB yesterday sent two of its Executive Officers from the Human Resource & Corporate Department and Finance Department respectively to attend a 2 days course at the Singapore Institute of Management. In those two days, the two executives will learn various topics covering from leadership and managerial skills, teamwork, motivation and many more.

Ramadhan Kareem

With Ramadhan coming soon, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone Ramadhan Kareem and May Allah gives his blessing to all of us during the holy month.

Hajj Preparation

Dear Readers, It has been awhile since the last updates. At present, our Hajj and Umrah Department are busy in preparing for the upcoming Hajj and presently are in the process of collecting deposit payments from the intending pilgrims. We are also aware on the recent news and regulations regarding the eligibility of Hajj pilgrims. Insya Allah we will post the updates from time to time.