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Senior officials and experts of the Health Department of Guangdong Province, the Bureau of Health of Shenzhen, the Department of Health of Macao, Hong Kong's Department of Health and the Hospital Authority (HA) held a meeting at Shenzhen on December 22 and 23 for comprehensive and in-depth discussions and experience sharing.
The subjects included measures to prevent and control Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and other infectious diseases, immunization policy,the situation of AIDS and further cooperation of experts of the three places.
They exchanged views on the latest information on SARS during the two-day meeting¡Fpresented their respective overall prevention work against infectious diseases, including SARS, influenza, AIDS, viral gastroenteritis, dengue fever, viral hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis and rabies; and examined the trend of infectious diseases in the three places.
As for the SARS case relating to laboratory infection in Taiwan this month, they shared with their counterparts their preventive measures and strategies, and agreed on further improving the notification mechanism, infection control, as well as treatment mechanism and facilities.
Accompanied by the local health officials, Hong Kong and Macao officials visited the Shenzhen Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and a hospital to have a better understanding of work in the area.
Experts of the three places discussed the following issues in details and reached consensus on their work arrangements:
1. Continuous improvement over the notification mechanism for infectious diseases and public health incidents
* further improve the established notification mechanism among Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao and enhance information exchange.
2. Scientific research on prevention of infectious diseases
* the three places agreed to start collaboration on scientific research and to strengthen exchanges and collaboration on surveillance. Topics include SARS prevention, diagnosis and clinical treatment protocol, as well as AIDS prevention, control and epidemiological studies.
* A Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao AIDS epidemiological study will be conducted in three phases. An expert team will be set up and academic forums on infectious diseases prevention and control will be held in these three places in turn.
3. Examine planning for infectious diseases treatment facilities
* Representatives of the three places exchanged views on infectious diseases treatment facilities so as to achieve an overall planning for different infectious diseases. They agreed to continue visiting one another, especially for SARS treatment facilities.
4. Training and visit of professionals in infectious diseases
* Training and visit of professionals in public health and infectious diseases will be arranged. Professionals can attend seminars and training courses organized by the other parties. Items include:
i.HIV voluntary counselling and antibody testing
ii.Field epidemiology exchange programme
iii.Microbiology laboratory service exchange programme
iv. Methadone service and HIV prevention exchange programme in Hong Kong
5. Format and agenda of meetings of infectious diseases experts
* They agreed to hold regular meetings of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Expert Group. Technical meetings will be held by the disease prevention and treatment units of the three places and format of meetings will be worked out by officials of the three places, with support from relevant health authorities. Visits and meetings by senior health officials of the three places will be increased. The next meeting will be held in Hong Kong.
Among those attending the meeting were representatives from Hong Kong including Director of Health, Dr P Y Lam, Deputy Director of Health (Special Duties), Dr P Y Leung, Director (Professional Services and Public Affairs) of HA, Dr Ko Wing-man, and Senior Executive Manager of HA, Dr Liu Shao-haei.
End/Tuesday, December 23, 2003
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