Hong Kong's Director of Health Ronald Lam (first left), Centre for Health Protection Controller Edwin Tsui (second left), and Executive Director of Singapore's interim Communicable Diseases Agency of Singapore Vernon Lee (second right) pose for a group photo after the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding on the prevention and control of communicable diseases, in Singapore on Aug 22, 2024. - Photo: HKSAR government
HONG KONG: Hong Kong signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore on preventing communicable diseases during a three-day visit of a Department of Health delegation.
At the invitation of Singapore's health ministry, Hong Kong's Director of Health Ronald Lam led a team to the city state's interim Communicable Diseases Agency (iCDA) on Thursday (Aug 22) where Centre for Health Protection Controller Edwin Tsui signed the MoU with the iCDA Executive Director Vernon Lee.
According to a government press release issued Saturday (Aug 24), the MoU aims to enhance co-operation in communicable diseases prevention, monitoring, epidemiological investigation, and response to infectious diseases.
The MoU also helps to enhance the framework for combating antimicrobial resistance actions, research and development, manpower capacity building and training, as well as exchange of views on public health emergency response plans and exercises.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Lam said that it marked a significant milestone.
"We eagerly anticipate further synergising our efforts and sharing our best practices to bolster public health protection," he said.
The CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch serves as a designated reference laboratory of the World Health Organization and contributes to global health initiatives.
The MoU aimes to strengthen the working partnership between the CHP and international counterparts, especially to enhance communicable diseases information exchanges and experience sharing within the regions.
The Hong Kong delegation held work exchanges with Singapore's health ministry and also visited National Centre for Infectious Diseases, National Environment Agency and Health Promotion Board. - China Daily/ANN
