HONG KONG 2004

Health problems in Hong Kong are mostly associated with lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Among the leading causes of death, cancers, diseases of heart and cerebrovascular diseases together accounted for about 56.4 per cent of all deaths during the year. These diseases affect mainly elderly people and will continue to dominate the mortality statistics as the population ages.

In 2004, cancers were the top killer in Hong Kong and claimed more than 10 000 lives. A Cancer Coordinating Committee has been established to formulate comprehensive strategic plans and make recommendations for the effective prevention and control of cancer in Hong Kong.

To reduce the number of women developing and dying from cervical cancer, the Department of Health, in collaboration with other health care providers, has launched a Cervical Screening Programme in 2004 to provide screening service for women aged 25 to 64 years. In addition, a Cervical Screening Information System was under development by the department to collect and analyse data on cervical smears.

Hong Kong now lists 30 statutory notifiable infectious diseases, including three quarantinable diseases, namely cholera, plague and yellow fever. During the year, 20 036 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were reported, of which 31.4 per cent were due to tuberculosis.

Children in Hong Kong are immunised against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella. Owing to the high vaccine coverage, diseases such as diphtheria and poliomyelitis have been eradicated and the incidence of other vaccine-preventable infectious diseases among children is relatively low.

The estimated number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Hong Kong is about 3 000. Each year, about 250 new cases of HIV infection are reported. Sexual transmission remains the most common mode of spread of the infection, though in recent years there has been growing concern over reports of HIV infection among injection drug users.

Following the recommendations of the SARS Expert Committee, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) was set up under the Department of Health on June 1, 2004. The mission of the CHP is to achieve effective prevention and control of diseases in Hong Kong in collaboration with local and international stakeholders. To actualise the CHP's commitment in real-time surveillance, rapid intervention and responsive risk communication, the CHP focuses on epidemiology training, surveillance, risk communication, research, coordination, preparedness and contingency planning. The CHP is headed by a controller with six supporting branches namely Surveillance & Epidemiology Branch, Infection Control Branch, Emergency Response and Information Branch, Public Health Services Branch, Public Health Laboratory Services Branch and Programme Management & Professional Development Branch, to bring forth the mission.

The CHP has the full support of various stakeholders and partners who are concerned about the health protection system. It has also invited experts in different disciplines and institutes to serve on a board of scientific advisers and even scientific committees, to pool professional knowledge and expertise in combating communicable diseases and protecting the public health.