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The 60‐year battle against tuberculosis in Hong Kong—a review of the past and a projection into the 21st century
Author(s) -
LEE ShiuHung
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2008.01334.x
Subject(s) - overcrowding , medicine , tuberculosis , battle , mainland china , government (linguistics) , environmental health , malnutrition , public health , economic growth , sanitation , influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , china , population , political science , immunology , geography , nursing , pathology , linguistics , philosophy , virus , archaeology , law , economics
Over the past 60 years, tuberculosis (TB) control in Hong Kong has gone through three phases of development. The first phase (from 1948 to the 1960s) was a phase of a wide spread of infectious diseases due to poor environmental hygiene and sanitation, overcrowding, malnutrition and the influx of residents returning to Hong Kong after the end of Pacific War. The second phase (from the 1970s to the 1980s) was a phase of rising chronic noncommunicable diseases due to the aging of the population. The third phase (1990s to the present) was a phase of double burden of diseases including both chronic noncommunicable diseases and the emergence of new infectious diseases. The factors responsible for the successful control of TB in Hong Kong over the past 60 years are largely due to policy and commitment in resources by the government, contributions from non‐governmental organizations, academic institutions, public‐spirited individuals, the community and the devotion and dedication of the staff. While Hong Kong has been successful in the control of TB and other infectious diseases, lessons have been learnt from the past. New challenges arise as a result of emergence of new infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, avian influenza (H5N1), and SARS. Changes in lifestyle and behaviour have added many socially related health problems. The SARS epidemic has also highlighted the problems of communication, collaboration and coordination between Hong Kong and Mainland China and among government departments in Hong Kong. In order to be better prepared for the future, there must be continuous commitment from the government to develop an effective health care system, to give greater emphasis to health promotion and disease prevention, and to strengthen partnerships at regional and international levels, particularly in the Pearl River Delta Region, in a global effort to stop TB and other infectious diseases.