Olympic public health drill concludes
The overall preparedness and response of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and related organizations to public health incidents during the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events was put to the test on June 6 during a full-scale exercise.
Code-named “Equator,” the exercise aimed to validate interdepartmental procedures and contingency plans on possible public health incidents during the equestrian events and to further enhance coordination and cooperation among government departments.
More than 100 participants from five government agencies, the Hospital Authority, the Equestrian Company and the hotel designated as Hong Kong Olympic Village all took part in the exercise.
Approximately 30 representatives from various government departments and local organizations, as well as experts from the mainland Ministry of Health and the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control attended the exercise as observers.
The exercise scenario unfolded when 24 athletes developed such food poisoning symptoms as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain after having lunch at the Olympic Village. Some of the patients, after initial assessment by medical staff of the Olympic Village clinic, were taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) for further medical treatment, while others received medical attention at the site.
Department of Health and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) staff also swung into action, carrying out epidemiological investigations and food and hygiene inspections in the village.
Secretary for Food and Health York Chow, accompanied by Director of Health P.Y. Lam, visited the Olympic Village and PWH to observe the frontline operation.
Dr. Chow said the exercise provided a valuable opportunity for the public health organizations to test relevant contingency plans and identify areas in need of improvement.
“It could strengthen interdepartmental communication, enhance ability and boost confidence of frontline staff in handling public health incidents during the event period,” he said. Dr. Chow stressed the government’s commitment to holding successful Equestrian Events in Hong Kong during the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Dr. Lam said the Department of Health and the FEHD has a well-established collaborative mechanism in managing food poisoning incidents, and the exercise allowed the agencies to fine-tune their respective contingency plans for the events.
The Department of Health, Hospital Authority, Civil Aid Service, Fire Services Department, FEHD, Government Laboratory, Equestrian Company and the Royal Park Hotel participated in the exercise.
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