Press Releases

SFH on Ebola virus disease (with photos)

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after inspecting the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre this morning (August 20):

Reporter: (On concerns of front-line medical staff on Ebola virus disease.)

Secretary for Food and Health: We had an opportunity to talk to some front-line personnel of the Princess Margaret Hospital this morning and they had expressed some major areas of concern. The first one is manpower shortage and whether there is a mechanism to ensure the suitable deployment or reinforcement of staff when there is a need. Secondly, our staff are concerned about the standard of the personal protective equipment provided. In this regard, the Hospital Authority's central infection control committee would conduct further discussion with an aim to come up with more detailed guidelines to assure adequate supply of protective gear. Thirdly, our staff are concerned about the arrangement for them to be deployed and rotated to treat confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease. More detailed discussions within the Hospital Authority will be required for the formulation of a set of guidelines, from which all front-line staff could know the circumstances that they would be deployed to handle patients infected by the Ebola virus. They will also know the duration of being deployed to these positions and all other necessary arrangements.

Reporter: (On preventive measures against Ebola virus disease.)

Secretary for Food and Health: The whole health-care system in Hong Kong would be prepared to deal with and handle possible imported cases of Ebola virus disease.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:37

NNNN

Photo1   Photo2   Photo3