Training for health professionals from Guangdong Field Epidemiology Training Programme

A team of 12 public health professionals from the Guangdong Field Epidemiology Training Program have just completed a one-week field epidemiological training in the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH). This event has enhanced exchange in field epidemiology between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

This event is one of the training programmes organized according to the agreement made in the fourth tripartite meeting of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Expert Group on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases held in 2004, with a view to strengthen the collaboration and expertise exchange between public health professionals of the three places in prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Controller of the CHP, Dr Leung Pak-yin said today (July 23) that the seven-day training course, organized by the CHP, aimed to strengthen the experience sharing between Guangdong and Hong Kong public health professionals in real time field epidemiological investigations.

"Through this programme, the Guangdong officials could familiarize themselves with the field epidemiological investigation methods and operations in Hong Kong," Dr Leung said.

The team includes 12 public health professionals from the Guangdong Province, and is led by Dr Li Jian, the Deputy Director of the Guangdong Field Epidemiology Training Program Office, and Dr Li Ling-hui. During their stay in Hong Kong from 17 to 23 July, they attached to the CHP's Surveillance and Epidemiology Branch (SEB) to gain a better understanding of CHP's field epidemiological investigation methods, the operation of the surveillance system on infectious diseases, as well as infectious disease prevention and emergency preparedness.

They were briefed by SEB staff about the procedures for investigation of infectious disease cases, investigation and control measures to be taken in cases of outbreaks in schools, child care centres and residential care homes for the elderly. They also joined the field epidemiological investigations for cases such as food poisoning, respiratory tract diseases and vector-borne diseases.

The methods used for investigation of SARS and bird flu, information management and dissemination during infectious disease outbreaks, the mechanism of inter-departmental co-operation, and the compilation and publication of epidemiological reports were introduced to the team.

The team was also arranged to visit CHP's Infection Control Branch and Emergency Response and Information Branch, to increase their understanding on measures to be taken in case of infectious disease outbreak in hospital and influenza pandemic.

Dr Leung noted that under the threat of a global influenza pandemic, the launching of training programmes among public health professionals in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau was appropriate and essential.

"Arrangements have also been made for two local field epidemiology officials to visit the Guangdong Centre for Disease Control and Prevention under the Guangdong Provincial Department of Health to gain further experience in prevention and control of infectious diseases," Dr Leung said.

End/Saturday, July 23, 2005