ENG-2001 — Page 235

HEALTH

With a view to improving the quality of emergency care at disaster scenes, the AMS introduced a three-year Disaster Medical Assistants Training (DMAT) Programme for its volunteer members in 1998. By completion of the programme at the end of 2001, a total of 3 200 members had received special training regarding disaster nursing, emergency medicine, duties at radiation monitoring centres and basic disaster psychology, and qualified as Disaster Medical Assistants. In order to maintain their DMAT proficiency, a newly designed Enhancement Training Programme has been introduced into the regular training of the members concerned.

The non-emergency services provided by the AMS to the community include an ambulance transfer service; first aid training; first aid coverage at country parks, major public functions and fund raising activities; and the daily manning of 21 methadone clinics. In 2001, 15 780 patients benefited from the non-emergency ambulance transfer service, and 3 752 civil servants received training to become qualified first aiders.

To promote a sense of citizenship and healthy lifestyle among young people aged between 10 and 15, the AMS launched its Youth Ambassador Scheme in 1997. In 2001, 480 young people joined this scheme and took part in various activities such as life saving training, community services and recreational activities.

The AMS also participated in the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme co- ordinated by the Education and Manpower Bureau. Various training modules including basic first aid skills, physical fitness training and team-building were organised for 506 participants in 2001.

Healthy Living into the 21st Century Campaign

The Healthy Living into the 21st Century Campaign, which was launched in May 1998 to instil a healthy lifestyle concept in the community through promotion of healthy habits, officially ended in May. Its three-year programme had been successful in arousing public awareness in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Food and Environmental Hygiene

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) was set up on January 1, 2000 to serve the people of Hong Kong in the area of food safety and environmental hygiene.

Public Cleansing Services

The FEHD has been providing effective and efficient public cleansing services, such as manual street-sweeping services, waste collection, provision of public bathhouses and enhancement of public toilets.

The department provides manual street-sweeping services in all urban and rural areas. The frequency of sweeping varies from once to eight times daily, depending on the need in each area.

Waste is collected daily throughout the year, except on Lunar New Year's Day when only major refuse collection points are opened for collection of domestic waste and junk. The department has 387 refuse collection vehicles for collecting domestic waste and junk. During the year, about 5 940 tonnes of household waste were collected every day.

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