*****************************************************
The new infectious disease block of the Princess Margaret Hospital will be dedicated to the health care workers who died in the fight against SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and to other health care workers who contributed to the fight against the disease, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, announced today (June 27).
To commemorate their fighting spirit against SARS, the Government will lay a plaque at a prominent place inside the new infectious centre to be built in Princess Margaret Hospital by June 2007.
"I am immensely proud of all our health care workers, both in the frontline and management, supporting or professional personnel, for the way they rose to the challenge," Dr Yeoh said.
"They have, through their resilience, selfless service and self-sacrifice, shown everyone the true meaning of professionalism and care. We remain in their debt.
"Although most health care workers do not think about dying in the line of duty, some, sadly, gave their lives so that others may live.
"It was only because of the heroic efforts of everyone involved that SARS was eventually brought under control. I salute all health care workers for making Hong Kong a safer place," he said.
The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved a funding of $538 million for the construction of the new infectious disease centre on June 25.
The new centre will provide 108 isolation beds and accommodate a clinical laboratory for the handling, collection and distribution of highly infectious specimens, and an office of the Infection Control Branch of the Centre for Health Protection.
The design of the centre will incorporate infection control provisions including ample and readily accessible staff amenities to provide a safe environment for staff handling highly infectious patients, and ventilation systems capable of controlling the spread of air-borne infectious diseases.
The centre will also be equipped with special devices such as high efficiency particulate air filters and automatic toilet waste disinfection system for the implementation of infection control measures which are more stringent than those recommended by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States.
On completion of this infectious disease centre, there will be a total of about 1,500 isolation beds in public hospitals, which will greatly enhanced the public hospitals' capacity to deal with SARS and other emerging infectious diseases.
Ends/Sunday, June 27, 2004
NNNN
