Fitness test:ladies only

A new medical fitness centre for women only has opened in Dubai to "provide privacy" for ladies taking health tests mandatory for all expatriate residents. The centre in Al Rashidiya has an all-female staff and can serve 300 to 400 visitors per day. It is currently only open to those renewing their residence or work visa, but will soon accept fresh visa applicants too. Foreigners in the UAE are screened for illnesses like Aids - and hepatitis and tuberculosis in some cases - before being issued a residence visa. Surge in applicants Article continues below Dubai Health Authority centres responsible for handling the fitness reports - based on X-ray and blood tests - had seen a surge in applicants after private clinics were banned from providing the service. The 16 government centres now see about 4,000 visitors per day. There is a female section in the Al Muhaisna branch and all centres have a ladies waiting area, but this is the first time a women-only option has been made available. The Rashidiya centre is seen as part of DHA's efforts to manage the sea of applicants. Official figures say around 700,000 residents took the tests in 2010. Residents have complained they have to wait for hours for the tests which only take a few minutes. "We're always looking to expand capacity every year and increase the number of applicants we can serve," said Khalid Al Shaikh Mubarak, the authority's Deputy Director General. Maisa Al Bustani, Medical Fitness Director at DHA, added: "We have been vigorously expanding our medical fitness centres keeping in mind both geographical considerations and audience type. "The aim of opening a women-only centre is to ensure that we provide privacy for ladies." The Rashidiya centre is located next to the Emirates Post office and Union Cooperative supermarket. It is open from 7.30am to 2pm, Sunday to Thursday.