Press Releases

Inter-departmental effort to disseminate public health advice to the public

The Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai, today (March 24) discussed with senior departmental representatives to co-ordinate the efforts of various sectors' response upon issuing of public health advice to hospital staff, schools, child care centres, elderly homes and transport operators.

There had been co-ordinated efforts on the prevention of the spread of atypical pneumonia since the outbreak. Today's meeting was held to ensure all government bureaux and departments join hands to disseminate information on relevant precautionary measures against the spread of atypical pneumonia, i.e., severe respiratory syndrome.

Mrs Yau had earlier convened a meeting on last Saturday to collate government's efforts in disseminating preventive and precautionary information on the infectious disease.

Mrs Yau noted major frontline departments had already issued internal guidelines to alert their staff of the precautionary measures against the disease, e.g. the Immigration Department and the Police.

In addition, departments with large interface with members of the public and private sector industries are advised to issue sector specific guidelines and liaise with their stakeholders on what precautionary measures to take in the coming few days, she said.

On the joint effort, Mrs Yau said: "Such partnership with all members of the community is necessary to prevent the spread of the disease."

In addition to advice issued by the Director of Health to medical practitioners and other service agencies, various departments have already issued advice to inform schools, social services centres, public transport operators, restaurants, karaokes, etc. of the precautionary measures to be taken.

"We will continue to step up our efforts to make sure relevant health advice are readily available to members of the public."

Pamphlets and posters containing general health advice will be reaching the public through mass scale distribution apart from the widely broadcast Announcements in the Public Interest.

"It is essential for us to step up our efforts to ensure both our frontline staff and the public are well informed of what they should do to prevent the spread of the disease. These are all precautionary measures and there is no cause for panic for the public," Mrs Yau said.

Various government bureaux and departments had sent their senior representatives to attend today's meeting.

Mrs Yau is tasked to coordinate efforts among government departments in the prevention of the spread of atypical pneumonia.

End/Monday, March 24, 2003
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