The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, this afternoon (August 24) inspected the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) to see for herself the measures and work adopted by the department to control and prevent communicable diseases.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Elizabeth Tse, and the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, Professor Chan was briefed by the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, and the Controller of the CHP, Dr Wong Ka-hing, as well as directorate staff in order to have a better understanding of the work and the challenges of the department.

     They then visited Central Notification Office, the Emergency Hotline Centre and the Emergency Response Centre to learn more about how these facilities operate.

     In view of incessant occurrence of complex and volatile global public health issues, Professor Chan noted that Hong Kong should stay vigilant to monitor, prevent and control communicable diseases and be well prepared for future challenges.

     Professor Chan thanked DH colleagues for remaining steadfast in discharging their duties. They are committed to safeguarding Hong Kong people's health through a range of promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services, as well as medical-social collaboration and international co-operation, she noted. She encouraged them to continue to uphold professionalism, keep abreast of the times and safeguard public health by providing timely alerts on communicable diseases through putting in place a surveillance network and strengthening infection control.

     In addition, the party also toured the simulation wards and the Risk Communication Centre which have been purpose-built for providing infection control training to healthcare professionals and conducting press briefings respectively.
 

Ends/Thursday, August 24, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:53

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