ENG-2006 — Page 216

176 1 Health

Bureau of Macao in June 2006 to further strengthen cooperation and communication mechanism in the fight against infectious diseases.

Other Communicable Diseases

Under the laws of Hong Kong, there are a total of 31 notifiable infectious diseases including three quarantinable diseases, namely cholera, plague and yellow fever that require mandatory reporting. During the year, 22 555 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were reported, of which 26 per cent were due to tuberculosis.

Apart from mandatory reporting, an immunisation programme consisting of vaccination against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella, is in place for children. The incidence of many communicable diseases has been declining or has remained at relatively low levels. On the other hand, emerging and re-emerging infections such as avian influenza, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and antibiotic resistance continue to pose important challenges.

The estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Hong Kong is about 3 200. Each year, about 300 new cases of HIV infections are reported. Sexual transmission remains the most common mode of spreading the infection, and in recent years, there has been a growing concern over the rising number of HIV infections among men who have sex with men. Although HIV prevalence remains low among injecting drug users, there is a need to remain vigilant with HIV prevention efforts in this vulnerable group.

Non-communicable Diseases

Health problems in Hong Kong are mostly associated with lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Among the leading causes of death, cancer, diseases of heart and cerebrovascular diseases together accounted for about 56.6 per cent of all registered deaths during the year. These diseases affect mainly elderly people and will continue to dominate the mortality statistics as the population ages. To reinforce protection against non-communicable diseases and environmental health hazards, the Centre of Health Protection established a Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2006.

Cancer is the top killer in Hong Kong and claimed more than 12 000 lives in 2006. 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, launched a Cervical Screening Programme in 2004 to promote screening service among women aged 25 to 64. In addition, a Cervical Screening Information System (CSIS) has been developed by the Department to collect and analyse data on cervical smears. In 2006, 105 296 women have undergone cervical screening as recorded by the CSIS.

At the district level, the Hospital Authority has launched a number of disease prevention and control programmes. In 2006, it continued to enhance its fall prevention programmes by conducting district-based 'fall risk' home assessment in