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Following is a speech by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, at the Opening Ceremony of the Second International Huaxia Congress of Endocrinology today (December 14):
Dr Kung, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It is a pleasure to be here today to officiate at the opening ceremony of the second International Huaxia Congress of Endocrinology. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to all of you, particularly our distinguished speakers and delegates from other parts of China or from points around the world. It is indeed gratifying to see so many Chinese endocrinologists from various places coming together to interact with each other on advances in research and clinical practice in endocrine diseases.
In Hong Kong, the age-specific mortality rate of endocrine, metabolic and immunity disorders has increased gradually over the past few decades. This trend is particularly prominent for our citizens aged 65 and above. Together with blood diseases, the mortality rate for this age group was 93.7 per 100,000 population in 1999, while it was 32 in 1961. In consideration of the increased average life expectancy in Hong Kong, the number of our citizens suffering from endocrine diseases is likely to rise in the coming years.
Statistics have also shown that patients are now getting this illness at a younger age. Owing to changes in eating habits and lifestyle of the Hong Kong people over the past few decades, osteoporosis has also become a major health challenge. According to statistics, osteoporosis is currently amongst the top five conditions in causing disability and prolonged hospital stay for the elderly. Endocrine diseases have put an immense burden on our society and require priority attention from the medical profession and the community.
As prevention is the key to minimising the impact of diseases and disability on the health status of our population, the Hong Kong Government has formulated a long-term plan to combat these diseases through a comprehensive, holistic and lifelong health promotion and preventive care programme, from infancy to old age. Step by step over the next few years, the services which the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority provide for expecting mothers, babies, adolescents, women, men and elders will be re-engineered into a life course approach, strengthened and expanded to enrich the comprehensiveness of our health promotion programmes, with focus on proper diet, regular exercise and healthy lifestyle.
The effective implementation of different initiatives and programmes to combat endocrine diseases and improve the general health status of citizens will also depend on the standard of professional practice of our healthcare professionals. International congresses such as this will play an important role in upgrading professional standards and in providing opportunities for lifelong learning for our healthcare professionals. I would like to congratulate the Hong Kong Society of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Reproduction, and the Society of Hong Kong Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes for successfully organising this international congress.
Over the next few days, you will be engaged in meaningful exchanges and vigorous discussions on various topics related to the endocrine diseases, and will meet old acquaintances and make new friends. I wish all of you a most stimulating and fruitful congress, and our overseas visitors a pleasant and enjoyable stay in Hong Kong.
Thank you.
END/Friday, December 14, 2001
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