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The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, today (October 21) met with Dr William Steiger and Ms Erika Elvander of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to exchange views on the setting up of a Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in Hong Kong and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) related issues.
Dr Yeoh sought the views of the two US health officials on the imminent setting up of the CHP as recommended in the Report of the SARS Expert Committee. The new public health infrastructure, expected to provide health functions similar to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, would have responsibility for the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
They were also briefed by the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau, on the comprehensive measures taken to prepare for the possible return of SARS.
Following the meeting at the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Dr Steiger and Ms Elvander visited the Public Health Laboratory Centre of the Department of Health at Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po. Earlier in the day, they also saw for themselves the newly completed isolation wards at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Ends/Tuesday, October 21, 2003
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