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174 Health

projects. Free smoking cessation services are provided by Chinese medicine mobile clinics which serve different locations of the territory.

The department granted funding to the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service in 2010 for the launch of a pilot outreach programme on smoking prevention and cessation. The target groups are new immigrants and ethnic minorities. The programme covers assessment of their needs for cessation services, outreach activities and referral of interested parties to smoking cessation clinics or services.

The HA also provides smoking counselling and cessation services through its two full-time and 30 part-time centres in public hospitals and outpatient clinics. The centres are manned by trained nurses and pharmacists who provide counselling and nicotine replacement therapy to help people stop smoking. The HA also operates a telephone hotline providing booking and enquiry services for smokers who wish to quit smoking.

Disease Prevention and Control

The Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation, the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation, came into effect on July 14, 2008. This ordinance ensures that the laws of Hong Kong are in line with the requirements of the International Health Regulations (2005) of the WHO and strengthens Hong Kong's infectious disease control structure so that the territory can tackle infectious diseases in a more effective manner and cope with public health emergencies.

The DH spent $1.97 billion on disease prevention and control at its maternal, child health and elderly health centres and similar facilities in the 2009-10 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 disease. It works on three principles: real-time surveillance, rapid intervention and responsive risk communication.

The centre constantly strengthens 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

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 effective policies to improve the local health protection system. Regular training and research programmes are also conducted.