Macao and the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office will continue mutual support and deepen co-operation on disease control and prevention, according to a press release by the Office of the Chief Executive on Friday (14 December). The two sides reached consensus during a meeting between Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On and WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Shin Young-soo, at Government Headquarters in Macao. Dr Shin and the Director of Programme Management of WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Dr Han Tieru, were in Macao following their visit to the Mainland. During the meeting, Mr Chui once again expressed his gratitude to WHO's long-term support to Macao in public health and other medical areas, especially the strong support and assistance given by the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office during the outbreak of SARS in neighbouring areas in 2003, adding that under the suggestions and guidelines from its regional office, Macao had overcome difficulties and smoothly coped with the epidemic. He pointed out that Macao had accumulated its experience in fighting against SARS, which was advantageous to improve its work in public health. He noted that the Government was obliged to prevent and cure communicable diseases, adding that a 10-year healthcare and medical services plan would allocate resources in the infrastructure of medical services and training to strengthen Macao's response capability in public health. Mr Chui said Macao's health authority would maintain close and effective communication with the WHO, adding that apart from communicable diseases, Macao would also support WHO's projects in the prevention and control of non-communicable and chronic diseases. He also said Macau would spare no efforts to support WHO in helping developing countries and other countries in the region in disease control and prevention. Dr Shin praised the Macao SAR Government's great efforts in tobacco control, re-affirming the close and quick response communication in reporting communicable diseases in consideration of Macao is a tourism-oriented territory.
