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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, today (November 12) held a special meeting with the chairpersons or representatives of environmental hygiene committees under the 18 District Councils (DCs). Appealing for support from the DCs, Dr Ko called upon them to vigorously perform their valued monitoring role at the district level and make concerted efforts with the relevant government departments to intensify anti-mosquito work for the purpose of preventing dengue fever (DF).
Dr Ko referred to the three confirmed local cases of DF; evidence that there existed more than one source of infection in Hong Kong; and the fact that the prevalence of DF remained high in neighbouring areas. He hoped the DCs could enhance their efforts in the coming few months to help encourage wide and active public participation in district anti-mosquito work.
At the meeting, the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Leung Ting-hung, and the Pest Control Officer-in-charge of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Mr Yuen Ming-chi, briefed participants on latest developments related to DF and the Government's mosquito prevention and control work.
Dr Ko said, "Although Hong Kong is now in early winter, the community must stay vigilant. From the briefing, it is evident that the prevalence of DF in Hong Kong and its neighbouring areas warrants our attention. The best preventive measure against DF is to eliminate breeding sites for mosquitoes. There is great urgency to launch territory-wide anti-mosquito measures in full swing."
Agreeing that it is important to eliminate mosquito breeding, participating DC representatives proposed that the relevant government departments should strengthen co-operation on anti-mosquito measures, step up public education and publicity efforts to enhance public vigilance, as well as organise talks for relevant parties including owners' corporations, mutual aid committees, and companies in the building management and construction sectors to enhance their knowledge on mosquito prevention and control work.
"In view of the confirmation of three local cases, the relevant departments have conducted new rounds of anti-mosquito work and intensified the mosquito prevention and control work under their purview. The Anti-Mosquito Steering Committee, which comprises various bureaux and departments, has convened a special meeting to discuss ways to enhance co-operation among different departments in conducting anti-mosquito work," Dr Ko responded.
Also attending today's meeting, the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mrs Marion Lai, said, "During the meeting of the Anti-Mosquito Steering Committee yesterday, the relevant departments discussed pursuing proactive measures, so that territory-wide and in-depth anti-mosquito efforts could be made. For instance, the Development Bureau has disseminated advice on mosquito control at construction sites to the construction sector through the Hong Kong Construction Association and real estate developers etc, and the Housing Department and the Home Affairs Department have, through organisations such as the Estate Management Advisory Committee, owners' corporations and mutual aid committees, called on residents of public and private housing estates to pitch in and take part in the anti-mosquito campaigns."
Dr Ko said, "We will also strengthen our efforts to promote public understanding of the disease and the preventive measures as well as educate the public on the importance of mosquito control work. We believe that through DCs' community network and their active participation, more people would be mobilised to participate actively in the district's anti-mosquito campaign, and enable the anti-mosquito work to cover a wider catchment."
Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:20
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