Guangdong Province, Macao and Hong Kong health authorities have
agreed to further strengthen mutual communication and cooperation
in combating infectious diseases at a meeting concluded in Hong
Kong on Friday.
The consensus was reached at the seventh tripartite meeting of
Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong on the Prevention and Control of
Infectious Diseases. The three parties will step up alertness in
the prevention and control of dengue fever, AIDS, tuberculosis and
plague.
Leading their delegations in the meeting were the Director of
Health of Hong Kong Lam Ping-yan, Associated Director of the
Department of Health of Guangdong Province Huang Fei and Director
of the Health Bureau of Macao Koi Kuok-leng.
During the two-day meeting, they examined the situation and
trend of major infectious diseases, including dengue fever, AIDS,
tuberculosis, Legionnaires' Disease and seasonal influenza in the
three places and exchanged experience in the preparedness for
emerging diseases and new measures under the International Health
Regulations.
They reviewed their work since the last tripartite meeting in
June 2006, which included the progress in information exchange, the
notification mechanism and cooperation in scientific research as
well as exchange programs of medical professionals and the first
joint exercise on emergency preparedness.
Participants were very satisfied that the joint exercise
conducted last year had effectively tested the emergency
preparedness plans of the three places, their coordination in the
prevention and control of avian influenza. They said that the
notification mechanism has been working smoothly, resulting in
effective exchange of information on infectious diseases.
The eighth tripartite meeting would be held in Macao.
(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2007)