ENG-2004 — Page 228

190 Health

products, and to advise the Government on matters related to smoking, passive smoking and health.

During the year, the council conducted publicity and community involvement campaigns with particular emphasis on discouraging smoking in public places and in workplaces. The council continued its school health education programmes. In addition to 108 health talks delivered to primary and secondary schools, the council arranged a tour of an interactive education drama in 95 primary schools. The council also operated a telephone hotline to receive enquiries, suggestions and complaints from the public on matters related to smoking and health.

Diseases Prevention and Control

Non-communicable Diseases

Health problems in Hong Kong are mostly associated with lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Among the leading causes of death, cancers, diseases of heart and cerebrovascular diseases together accounted for about 56.4 per cent of all deaths during the year. These diseases affect mainly elderly people and will continue to dominate the mortality statistics as the population ages.

In 2004, cancers were the top killer in Hong Kong and claimed more than 10 000 lives. A Cancer Coordinating Committee has been established to formulate comprehensive strategic plans and make recommendations for the effective prevention and control of cancer in Hong Kong.

To reduce the number of women developing and dying from cervical cancer, the Department of Health, in collaboration with other health care providers, has launched a Cervical Screening Programme in 2004 to provide screening service for women aged 25 to 64 years. In addition, a Cervical Screening Information System was under development by the department to collect and analyse data on cervical smears.

Communicable Diseases

Hong Kong now lists 30 statutory notifiable infectious diseases, including three quarantinable diseases, namely cholera, plague and yellow fever. During the year, 20 036 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were reported, of which 31.4 per cent were due to tuberculosis.

Children in Hong Kong are immunised against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella. Owing to the high vaccine coverage, diseases such as diphtheria and poliomyelitis have been eradicated and the incidence of other vaccine-preventable infectious diseases among children is relatively low.

The estimated number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus. (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Hong Kong is about 3 000. Each year, about 250 new cases of HIV infection are reported. Sexual transmission remains the most common mode of spread of the infection, though in recent years there has been growing concern over reports of HIV infection among injection drug

users.