SFH speaks on MOA on nursing education and research, and cold weather
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Reporter: Professor Chan, can you talk a bit about the importance of the agreement like this today, and the general advice to the public in this cold weather?
Secretary for Food and Health: I just witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement of Southeast and East Asian Nursing Education and Research Network. I think it is important and timely as regards the setting up and the collaboration of this kind of network of the 14 countries. I am sure that this is just a start and there will be more countries joining. The purpose of the agreement is to work together, not only with Hong Kong but also with other countries. The Asian countries can together push forward the quality of nursing education and more collaboration in nursing research. I think this is a very good start and I hope they will work together more closely, not only on different projects, but also on more exchange of nursing students and working more collaboratively in research projects.
Reporter: And the cold weather?
Secretary for Food and Health: As far as cold weather is concerned, I appeal to Hong Kong citizens, especially the high-risk groups and the elderly people, to be aware of the cold weather, and to keep warm and personal hygiene. Prevention is always better than cure. So, I would again appeal to Hong Kong citizens to take seasonal influenza vaccination. So far, the number of flu vaccination is about 550 000 doses, which has shown an increase when we compare with last year. It shows that Hong Kong people have increased their awareness of prevention. But we still hope more people will take flu vaccination. Prevention is more important; if people get ill, they do not need to be hospitalised in normal flu situation. Because of the ageing population and the comorbidity of non-communicable diseases and chronic diseases, people probably required hospitalisation because of the complications arising from the flu. Therefore, the Hospital Authority (HA) has prepared over 500 beds in addition at the height of the flu season. In terms of manpower, they have started to recruit part-time healthcare professionals and provide some special honorarium schemes for the serving healthcare professionals who would like to do a few more hours during their shift. On whether the HA will extend the initiative of using some of the private hospitals beds, I think they will look into the situation later.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, December 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:21
Issued at HKT 14:21
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