Public urged to support World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week
The Department of Health (DH) today (November 18) urged members of the public to use antibiotics appropriately in support of World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, running from today to November 24 annually. The theme of the World Health Organization (WHO) this year is "Educate. Advocate. Act now."
AMR remains a top global threat to public health. According to a recent overseas study, it was estimated that about 4.71 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR globally in 2021, including 1.14 million deaths attributable to bacterial AMR. Forecasts show that an estimated 1.91 million deaths attributable to AMR and 8.22 million deaths associated with AMR could occur globally in 2050. The WHO is urging a concerted global effort through cross-sector collaboration via the One Health approach to tackle this AMR threat.
In 2016 the Government set up a High Level Steering Committee on AMR (HLSC) and formulated the first Hong Kong Strategy and Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (Action Plan) in 2017. Since the launch of the Action Plan, a series of actions against AMR have been implemented in accordance with the strategies laid out in the plan by different action parties, with good progress being made. In 2022, the Government launched the second Action Plan to map out response strategies for the next phase, covering the years from 2023 to 2027.
Educate
The Centre for Health Protection of the DH has long educated healthcare professionals and the public on the proper use of antibiotics, and has regularly monitored the knowledge, attitude and practice of the public on antibiotic resistance. Increasing knowledge of AMR among the general public has been noted according to the latest results of a survey in 2023. For instance, respondents correctly answering that cold and influenza should not be treated by antibiotics increased from 37 per cent in a 2016/17 survey to 84 per cent in the 2023 survey. Moreover, respondents who completed the entire course of antibiotic treatment as instructed by doctors increased from 88 per cent to 92 per cent in the same period. Yet, less than 40 per cent of respondents were aware that bacteria resistant to antibiotics can be spread from person to person.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has long been educating the public to observe good personal and environmental hygiene throughout food preparation and handling to reduce the risk of AMR. In addition to organising talks and producing guidelines and pamphlets, the Centre for Food Safety of the FEHD has also incorporated relevant content into the training courses under the Hygiene Manager and Hygiene Supervisor Scheme.
Advocate
The Government has established a surveillance system to track the trends of antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in the human, animal and food sectors according to the Action Plan. Further research will be conducted to better understand the situation of AMR in the local environment.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes are in place in public and private hospitals to optimise the use of antibiotics by providing evidence-based antibiotic prescription guidelines for common infections as a reference. The guidelines will continue to be updated based on local epidemiology and international best practices.
Furthermore, to address the threat of emerging multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), the Government has enhanced support to RCHEs to strictly implement infection control measures and reduce the risk of transmission of MDROs in the RCHEs.
Regarding the livestock sector, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has implemented the "veterinary prescription-only medication supply" policy in phases at the local livestock farm level to tighten the regulation on the use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry, in particular those critically important antimicrobials for humans.
Act now
The Government has long attached great importance to tackling the issue of AMR, and has acted promptly according to the latest international and local developments. Relevant bureaux/departments and organisations, including the Health Bureau, the DH, the FEHD, the AFCD and the Hospital Authority will continue to combat the challenge of AMR through cross-sector co-ordination and collaboration with private hospitals, professional bodies, academia and other stakeholders.
In light of the latest findings, a spokesman for the CHP urged members of the public to join the fight against antibiotic resistance by observing the following advice:
Take adequate rest and drink plenty of water when having a cold or flu. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor and do not buy antibiotics without a prescription at community pharmacies;
Do not demand antibioticsfrom doctorswhen not indicated. Only take antibiotics when advised by doctors and complete the whole course of treatment even if symptoms have improved;
Follow precautions stated on the prescription bag and adopt appropriate infection control measures such as practising frequent hand hygiene, wearing a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, and disinfecting and covering all wounds properly to prevent person-to-person spread of resistant bacteria when taking antibiotics;
Receive seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccines as effective means to prevent secondary bacterial infection, hence reducing the use of antibiotics and occurrence of AMR;
Be aware of the risk of acquiring resistant bacteria from ready-to-eat (RTE) food. People taking antibiotics or antacids, and susceptible populations (such as pregnant women, infants and young children, the elderly and people with weakened immunity) are of higher risk and should therefore avoid eating raw and undercooked RTE foods; and
Observe good hygienic practices in the kitchen when handling food to minimise the risk of cross-contamination by resistant bacteria.
The CHP will continue to work with doctors to enhance education on the appropriate use of antibiotics and to remind patients about risk of antimicrobial resistance. For details of information about antimicrobial resistance, please visit the CHP thematic website and the CHP Facebook Page.
Speech by Acting CE at Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024 cum World Maritime Merchants Forum 2024
Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024 cum World Maritime Merchants Forum 2024 today (November 18):
Honourable Vice-Chairman C Y Leung (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), Director Zheng Yanxiong (Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), Commissioner Cui Jianchun (Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR), Vice Minister Fu Xuyin (Vice Minister of Transport), Chairman Miao Jianmin (Chairman of the China Merchants Group), distinguished guests, friends of the global maritime community, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. A very warm welcome to Hong Kong Maritime Week and the World Maritime Merchants Forum, which gets going, right here, immediately after our opening ceremony.
This is the eighth edition of Maritime Week, and I am delighted to say it is expected to draw some 14 500 professionals from all over the world.
The theme of this year's Maritime Week, "Navigating to a Greener Future", is a clear and compelling statement of our commitment to sustainability.
Throughout this week, you will want to take in some of the many seminars, workshops and related events spotlighting sustainability and our industry. That includes the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, which opened this morning. And there is lots more on offer, from harbour and terminal tours and the Golf Cup, to lunches and networking cocktails, games, competitions and a diverse array of international, regional and local happenings. It is all part of Maritime Week 2024.
So is the World Maritime Merchants Forum, the fourth edition.
Indeed, the Forum has become a signature event promoting the global shipping industry chain.
This year's Forum tackles such critical topics as the role of ship finance in industrial transformation, the implications of new carbon-tax regulations and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in driving digital change in shipping.
Our strategic location as a gateway to Asia, together with our sophisticated facilities and infrastructure, has been central to Hong Kong's rise as one of the world's busiest and most efficient ports.
In the latest International Shipping Centre Development Index, Hong Kong ranked fourth, overall, boasting more than 300 weekly international container-vessel sailings to nearly 500 destinations.
The average length of stay of container vessels in Hong Kong port is 0.95 days. That is about half the average of 1.85 days for the world's top 20 container ports. Our efficiency, I am pleased to say, has earned us the reputation of being a "catch-up port".
And our unique institutional strengths under "one country, two systems", together with our common law system, make Hong Kong an ideal hub for high-value-added maritime services.
We are determined to build on our maritime strengths, as the 2024 Policy Address, published last month, underlined.
Maritime initiatives outlined in the Policy Address include the establishment of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board. The high-level advisory body will assist the Government in developing policy and long-term strategy for the maritime sector.
The board will include representatives from the maritime industry, ensuring that our policies are informed by those who understand the industry best.
We will also promote the development of high-value-added maritime and professional services by encouraging shipping principals and maritime enterprises to establish a presence or expand in Hong Kong.
That means promoting the tax exemptions we introduced in the past few years for ship-leasing businesses and half-rate tax concessions for marine insurance, ship management, ship agency and ship broking. We will also look to enhance these concessions to ensure that they remain internationally attractive.
And we will explore tax measures to encourage commodity traders to look to Hong Kong for their future.
Talent is also critical to our future success. We will continue to invest in maritime service talent development, strengthening our collaboration with international marine insurance organisations. We will also expand the Maritime and Aviation Training Fund to cover more green energy courses and marine insurance examinations.
Sustainability – transforming Hong Kong into a green maritime centre – is at the heart of our policy priorities.
Earlier this year, our Marine Department began offering cash incentives for Hong Kong-registered ships that meet international decarbonisation standards. We will expand our promotion of this initiative, encouraging more ships to participate.
Our ambitions also include developing Hong Kong into a green maritime fuel-bunkering centre. Just a few days ago, we published our Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering. Our efforts include the development of essential infrastructure, promoting reduced port emissions, and providing incentives for the use of green maritime fuels. No less important, the Action Plan emphasises collaboration with Greater Bay Area ports and working to create green shipping corridors with other ports.
In short, it will fast track our progress as a green maritime centre.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you the best of business and pleasure at Maritime Week, a productive World Maritime Merchants Forum and smooth sailing in the coming year, whatever your course or destination.
Thank you.
