The Guangdong , Macau and Hong Kong health authorities today (July 14) agreed to continue strengthening their cooperation in the prevention and control of infectious diseases in a bid to better protect public health in the region.
The agreement was re-affirmed in the fifth tripartite meeting of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Expert Group on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases held in Macau on July 13 and 14.
During the meeting, public health and medical experts of the three places reviewed their works and cooperation in respect of the notification of and scientific research on infectious diseases, training courses and attachment programmes. They also discussed the ways to further improving the existing cooperation mechanism.
The experts examined the trends of various infectious diseases in the three places including influenza, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, rabies, typhoid, food poisoning, hand-foot-mouth disease, measles and disease prevention after disasters.
They discussed the development progress of the public health emergency response system; the development of treatment facilities for patients with infectious diseases; the surveillance and control of rodent-related and vector borne diseases; the preparedness plan for influenza pandemic as well as the set up of a public health communication platform for the three places.
The meeting reached consensus on the following subjects:
(1)Continuous improvement for the notification mechanism on infectious diseases:
Noting that the existing communication channel for infectious diseases outbreaks is functioning satisfactorily, members agreed to adopt strengthening measures, including the use of internet and video conferencing when circumstances permit, to enable the exchange of more comprehensive information in a real-time manner.
Guangdong and Macau will also send representatives to take part in the risk communication courses organised by Hong Kong to further improving the dissemination of disease information.
The three sides also agreed to enhance data analysis of infectious diseases and will upload the findings to a designated website on a regular basis to facilitate information sharing and in-depth discussion.
(2) Co-operation in scientific research
The three parties studied the progress of joint research projects on AIDS, influenza and dengue fever. It is agreed that enhanced cooperation will be made in a number of areas, including the commencement of the second phase of the Pearl River Delta communication platform on AIDS that can facilitate data analysis and research.
Moreover, they agreed to launch epidemiological surveillance and research projects on disease prevention of specific groups of people, like the mobile population and drug addicts. As for influenza, the three parties agreed to improve and make public their own influenza surveillance systems as well as to set up an alert system. Studies on the prevention measures taken by the general public and their awareness of influenza will also be carried out.
(3)Training and mutual visits of health care professionals
The three parties acknowledged the achievements made on the training of epidemiological investigations, laboratory works, disease prevention and project management. Efforts will be made to speed up infection control training and courses designed for laboratory technicians and scientific officers.
(4)Development of treatment facilities for infectious diseases patients
The three sides agreed to further improve the sharing of experience and knowledge, as well as the co-operation during public health emergency. It is decided that the Guangdong authority will take the lead in organizing discussion among the experts in the three places in setting up and implementing a co-operation mechanism.
(5) Strengthen contingency plan in case of influenza pandemic
Realizing the global threat of bird flu and influenza pandemic, the three parties are eager to strengthen their cooperation in terms of surveillance, alertness and responsiveness to guard against these diseases. They will complement and support each other in minimizing the possible impact of influenza pandemic on the three places.
(6). Clinical diagnosis and co-operation in treatment
The three sides agreed to exchange their clinical experience on three major infectious diseases, such as the integration of Western and Chinese medicines in treating avian flu and the diagnosis and treatment of dengue fever and rabies.
They also agreed that the Guangdong health authority will be the organizer of the sixth tripartite meeting scheduled to be held in July next year.
Participating in the meeting included Associated Director of the Department of Health of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Fei, Associate Director of Shenzhen Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Mr Zhang Shun-xiang, the Director of the Department of Health of the Macau SAR Government, Dr Koi Kuok-leng; Director of Macau’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Mr Tong Ka-io, Hong Kong's Director of Health, Dr Lam Ping-yan, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and the Director (Professional Services and Operations) of the Hospital Authority, Dr Cheung Wai-lun.
End/Thursday, July 14, 2005