ENG-1997 — Page 212

HEALTH

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stepping up of surveillance, screening programme for poultry workers, strengthening of laboratory support and widespread publicity and health education.

An Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee chaired by the Deputy Director of Health was set up to co-ordinate efforts of the various departments in the control of the disease. The Department of Health also works closely with the World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA, on matters related to case investigation, field study, development of laboratory tests and the making of a vaccine.

The government decided to slaughter all chickens in Hong Kong and the two municipal services departments supported the operation by supervising the slaughter of all poultry in market stalls and fresh provision shops. The departments also stepped up market cleansing and had all poultry stalls and fresh provision shops cleaned and disinfected thoroughly.

Infectious diseases

There are 26 statutory notifiable diseases in Hong Kong, including three quarantinable diseases, namely cholera, plague and yellow fever. In 1997, about 14 300 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were reported, of which nearly 50 per cent were due to tuberculosis.

Children in Hong Kong are immunised against tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, poliomyelitis, tetanus, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella. Due to high vaccine coverage, diseases such as diphtheria and poliomyelitis have been virtually eradicated and the incidence of preventable infectious diseases among children is relatively low. In 1997, about 200 cases of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and 70 AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients were reported. The cumulative total was about 1 000 cases of HIV infection and 300 AIDS patients. A recent study, estimated the actual number of HIV-infected individuals was 1 500 to 2 000.

Hospital and Development Programmes

Demand for hospital services remained high. In 1997, there were 961 500 hospital discharges and deaths and 7 053 000 attendances at out-patient and specialist clinics. Accident and emergency departments of major public hospitals had 2117 000 attendances or 5 800 per day.

Projects in the hospital development programme progressed satisfactorily. The Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital with a bed complement of 642 came into operation in January 1997. Commissioning for the Tai Po Hospital and North District Hospital was in progress. The Tseung Kwan O Hospital and Kowloon Medical Rehabilitation Centre were under development. Several other hospitals and specialist clinics were undergoing redevelopment or major refurbishment.

Primary Health Care

Primary health care, which emphasises the promotion of general health and prevention of disease, is recognised world-wide as the most cost-effective way to provide health care services.