HEALTH
breeding places, health education and law enforcement. Technical support is provided by the Pest Control Advisory Section of the Department of Health.
Environmental Health Education
The Department of Health's Health Education Unit promotes environmental health and food hygiene through territory-wide education programmes. Working with the two municipal councils, the unit conducted several health education activities during the year, including the 1997 Hygiene and Health Expo and the 1997 Food Hygiene Campaign for members of the food trade, school teachers and the general public.
Other publicity campaigns on mosquito and rodent prevention and prevention of nuisance from dripping air-conditioners were also staged during the year. Health messages are disseminated through printed materials, mobile broadcasting, telephone hot-lines and the mass media. Health education materials are also available from the unit's resource centre.
The Provisional Urban Council also organises health education programmes to cater for the specific needs of the urban area. The Restaurant Hygiene Competition, and the Healthy Menu and Healthy Cooking Competition were staged for the restaurant trade. An Ambassador of Hygiene Scheme and a Health Education Activities in Schools Funding Scheme were aimed at school children. A Health Education Fair and Talks on Public Health were also organised for members of the public. The Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre at Kowloon Park was open to members of the public in May 1997. Visitors can enrich their health knowledge through the permanent interactive exhibits, temporary exhibitions as well as the reference library. Various seminars and activities are also organised to arouse public interest in good hygiene practice and behaviour conducive to health.
Food Hygiene
The Health Department's Hygiene Division monitors the safety of imported and locally-produced foods.
In March 1997, the Institute of Pathology confirmed the presence of E.Coli 0157:H7 in a raw beef sample taken by the Department of Health. It was the first time this pathogen had been detected in food in Hong Kong. The two municipal services departments and the Department of Health took immediate action to seize the contaminated meat. Preventive measures were implemented at the critical points of sanitary control in the distribution chain of beef- the abattoirs, transportation process and the retail outlets to reduce the risk of further contamination.
In May 1997, 13 local cases of cholera were notified. Prompt control measures, including step-up of inspection and enforcement action on all food premises, hawker control and pest control, were implemented. Publicity and health education on cholera prevention were also intensified and the outbreak was quickly brought to a halt.
The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations amended in February 1996 have largely come into effect. This has strengthened consumer protection and made local regulations more consistent with international developments.
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Hong Kong maintains close ties with the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and other international food
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