Health 191
Centre for Health Protection
Following the recommendations of the SARS Expert Committee, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) was set up under the Department of Health on June 1, 2004. The mission of the CHP is to achieve effective prevention and control of diseases in Hong Kong in collaboration with local and international stakeholders. To actualise the CHP's commitment in real-time surveillance, rapid intervention and responsive risk communication, the CHP focuses on epidemiology training, surveillance, risk communication, research, coordination, preparedness and contingency planning. The CHP is headed by a controller with six supporting branches namely Surveillance & Epidemiology Branch, Infection Control Branch, Emergency Response and Information Branch, Public Health Services Branch, Public Health Laboratory Services Branch and Programme Management & Professional Development Branch, to bring forth the mission.
The CHP has the full support of various stakeholders and partners who are concerned about the health protection system. It has also invited experts in different disciplines and institutes to serve on a board of scientific advisers and seven scientific committees, to pool professional knowledge and expertise
expertise in combating communicable diseases and protecting the public health.
Health Regulatory Activities
Port Health
The Port Health Office of the Department of Health enforces measures stipulated by the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance and the International Health Regulations to prevent the introduction of quarantinable diseases and other serious infectious diseases into Hong Kong by air, land or sea. No case of plague or yellow fever has been reported during the year.
Responding to the sporadic SARS outbreaks elsewhere, the Port Health Office maintained the control and preventive measures at immigration control points in 2004. Travellers, both entering and leaving Hong Kong, were required to declare their health status and have their body temperature screened. The measures were scaled down to temperature screening of arrivals in July as the global situation eased. Nevertheless, vigilance for resurgence of SARS and emergence of human avian influenza cases were heightened. During 2004, over 52 million travellers declared their health status and over 113 million travellers were screened for body temperature checking in order to prevent and control the international spread of SARS.
Radiation Health
The Radiation Health Unit of the Department of Health is the Government's adviser on radiation safety and protection. It advises the Government on the health effects of radiation fields and protection of public health in areas such as nuclear incidents and management of radioactive materials and wastes. It also serves as the executive arm of the Radiation Board, which is the statutory authority set up under the Radiation Ordinance to control the import, export, possession and use of
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