The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, attended a national recognition ceremony for outstanding individuals in foreign medical aid in Beijing today (December 29) to witness Consultant (Family Medicine) of the Department of Health (DH) Dr Cecilia Fan being recognised by the country for her participation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) search and rescue team's work in quake-stricken Türkiye.
Dr Fan led a four-member medical team of the DH to join the 59-strong search and rescue team formed by the HKSAR government departments to assist in the search and rescue work in the quake-stricken areas in Türkiye in February this year.
Professor Lo said, "With my heartfelt congratulations to Dr Fan, I am very excited to witness an HKSAR healthcare professional receiving recognition by the country for her fearlessness and dedication to saving lives. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the dispatch of Chinese medical teams abroad. President Xi Jinping said that foreign medical aid illustrates our country's love for peace and cherishment for lives, and also makes greater contributions to the building of a global community of health for all. Healthcare professionals of the HKSAR will continue to give full play to their strengths, serve the country's needs and contribute to the country's foreign medical aid.
"Dr Fan demonstrated excellent leadership and emergency response ability, facilitating efficient operation. The post-disaster situation on the ground posed great challenges to the search and rescue team, but the medical team led by Dr Fan displayed perseverance, bravery and fearlessness, while holding fast to professionalism, thereby serving as a role model for the healthcare professionals of the HKSAR to participate in the country's foreign medical aid."
Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong tonight. During his absence, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, acts as the Secretary for Health.
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