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Tripartite meeting enhances co-operation against communicable diseases (with photos)
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     â€‹Representatives from the health authorities of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau today (October 20) attended the 16th Tripartite Meeting on Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Hong Kong, with a view to enhancing the co-operation and preparedness of the three places against communicable diseases.

     Addressing the meeting, the Director of Health of Hong Kong, Dr Constance Chan, said, "The three places are facing the same public health threat from communicable diseases. Areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission have been on the rise in recent months and imported cases were recorded in Hong Kong and Guangdong. With the presence of the Zika vector, Aedes mosquitoes, the risk of possible local cases and outbreaks in the three places has significantly increased."

     Noting that representatives of the three places held a meeting on progress in the prevention and control of Zika virus in Guangdong in April, Dr Chan said that it had reaffirmed co-operation in disease prevention and control as well as in the mutual notification system of Zika Virus Infections between the three places. This close tripartite liaison explains the effective contingency plan for public health incidents in the three places established in recent years.

     At the 16th tripartite meeting, the three places reviewed disease surveillance, prevention and control, and notification systems. In addition, they discussed issues including the overall situation of communicable diseases in the three places, the prevention and control of Zika virus, goals and milestones of measles elimination, fighting antimicrobial resistance, the latest situation of topical communicable diseases, and mutual experiences in implementing and promoting vaccination.

     Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau reached consensus at the 16th tripartite meeting in:
 
  1. Enhancing tripartite co-operation in disease prevention and control and public health contingencies, exchange of information and experience and raising the capabilities guarding against communicable diseases;
  2. Fostering communication, notification, prevention, preparedness and vector control for mosquito-borne diseases including Zika Virus Infection and dengue fever to reduce the public health risk from these diseases;
  3. Promoting joint disease research, including data collection and analysis of mosquito-borne diseases and human infection of avian influenza;
  4. Implementing the co-operation agreement on public health emergencies in the three places to provide a better response to public health contingencies and major communicable diseases;
  5. Further improving the notification system and joint co-operation;
  6. Advancing exchange and training among disease experts, including disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, field epidemiology, emergency management, laboratory testing, infection control, risk communication and health education; and
  7. Extending exchange and co-operation in fighting antimicrobial resistance.

     The 16th tripartite meeting was chaired by the heads of the health authorities of the three places, namely the Director General of Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, Mr Duan Yufei; the Director of Health of Hong Kong, Dr Constance Chan, and the Director of the Health Bureau of Macau, Dr Lei Chin-ion. Some 60 representatives from the three places attended the meeting, including those from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department; the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; and the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong.

     The meeting will be hosted by the Health Bureau of Macau next year.
 
Ends/Thursday, October 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:03
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Photo

The Director General of the Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, Mr Duan Yufei (left); the Director of Health of Hong Kong, Dr Constance Chan (centre); and the Director of the Health Bureau of Macau, Dr Lei Chin-ion (right), pictured today (October 20) after signing the joint minutes of the 16th Tripartite Meeting on Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases.
The Director General of the Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, Mr Duan Yufei (front row, fifth left); the Director of Health of Hong Kong, Dr Constance Chan (front row, sixth left), and the Director of the Health Bureau of Macau, Dr Lei Chin-ion (front row, sixth right), pictured with other participants today (October 20) at the 16th Tripartite Meeting on Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases.
Representatives from the health authorities of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau today (October 20) discuss the overall situation of communicable diseases in the three places at the 16th Tripartite Meeting on Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases.

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