ENG-2008 — Page 218

166 Health

The Department of Health spent $1,212 million on disease prevention and control at its maternal, child health and elderly health centres and other such places in the 2007-08 financial year.

Centre for Health Protection

The Centre for Health Protection has been in operation since June 1, 2004. It collaborates with its local and international counterparts to prevent and control outbreaks of diseases. It works on three principles: real-time surveillance, rapid intervention and responsive risk communication.

The Centre has been constantly strengthening its infection surveillance and data analyses on epidemiology and health care. By setting up an effective reporting and monitoring system as well as upgrading facilities for conducting diagnosis and clinical tests, the centre has kept track of communicable diseases effectively. The centre issues surveillance reports on a regular basis, as well as reports on laboratory safety and quality assurance. Prevention and control of, and education on known diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases were also strengthened. A board of scientific advisers, comprising experts from different disciplines, and seven scientific committees meet periodically to assist the centre in formulating policies to improve the local health protection system. Training and research programmes were also launched regularly.

In addition to drawing up risk communication strategies and action plans, the centre, through health educational campaigns and publicity programmes with district councils, has given information and guidelines about diseases to the public regularly to increase their awareness of public health threats so that preventive measures can be taken swiftly. In addition, links with other health authorities and agencies on the Mainland, Macao and the World Health Organisation have been reinforced to share professional knowledge and experience in combating diseases.

Contingency Planning for Infectious Disease Outbreaks

To improve government and community preparedness to cope with major outbreaks of infectious diseases, the Centre for Health Protection continues to review and update its strategies for dealing with such outbreaks. A plan for mobilising volunteers in the event of an outbreak is also in place. For the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events, the centre drew up an emergency response plan for tackling infectious disease outbreaks should they occur during the events.

The centre organised as well as participated in a number of drills during the year to test Hong Kong's preparedness for such outbreaks. On June 6, a drill codenamed 'Equator' was conducted together with other departments and organisations to test the overall preparedness and response to public health incidents during the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events. On June 19, the centre and the Port Health Office under the Department of Health, together with the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, conducted an exercise codenamed 'Compass', at Shenzhen Bay Port to test the emergency response of the two places to cross-boundary health hazards.