Press Releases
SHWF meets ministers in New Zealand (with photo)
Prevention of an influenza pandemic and lobbying for Dr Margaret Chan's
candidacy for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General post topped
the agenda for the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow's,
meetings in New Zealand with ministers and high-ranking officials of various
countries.
Dr Chow was in Auckland, New Zealand attending the 57th Session of the Regional
Committee for the Western Pacific, which opened today (September 18).
Meeting with representatives of the US State Department and Health Department,
Dr Chow said many countries shared the concern that there was a shortage of
supply of influenza vaccine this year, and that the same situation might occur
in the event of an avian influenza outbreak.
The US officials acknowledged the concern and undertook to see what could be
done to supply the vaccine to the most needy areas.
Talking about Dr Margaret Chan, Dr Chow remarked that she had at least two
distinctive advantages over other candidates -- her many years of experience in
running Hong Kong's public health system and her experience with the WHO over
the past two years, specialising in pandemic preparedness and communicable
disease management and control.
"She enjoys a good track record and has initiated a number of reforms during her
tenure of service as Hong Kong's Director of Health, particularly, in respect of
disease surveillance, child care services, and development of Chinese medicine,"
Dr Chow said.
He addressed the WHO Regional Committee this afternoon. He reported on the
progress of Hong Kong's various public health programmes over the past year, in
relation to the prevention of avian influenza, tobacco control, obesity among
school children, HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment of cancer and different forms of
poisoning.
He commended the WHO's efforts in providing professional guidance, timely
information, technical support and training opportunities to Hong Kong in many
areas of public health concern, especially in influenza pandemic preparedness
and planning.
Dr Chow pledged that Hong Kong would continue with WHO to fulfil its objectives
and contribute to fostering public health improvements in the region.
During the WHO Regional Committee meeting, Dr Chow has held bilateral meetings
with the Australian Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing, Ms Jane Halton,
and representatives of the US State Department and Health Department. He also
met Japan's Senior Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Mr Masao
Akamatsu, New Zealand's Minister of Health, Mr Pete Hodgson, and representatives
of other countries attending the conference.
He will meet the New Caledonia Health Minister, Ms Marianne Devaux, tomorrow
(September 19).
Ends/Monday, September 18, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:42
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(Photo)