DH continues to follow up on health condition of infants who have consumed powdered infant formula found with lead possibly exceeding limit
The Department of Health (DH) today (July 27) said that the DH will continue to follow up on the health conditions of infants who have consumed the powdered infant formula found with lead possibly exceeding limit.
The Department of Health, Photo source: reference image
The DH received notification from the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on July 25 night that the product "Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula" (batch number: 1W07KPJ) was found by the Macao authority with lead possibly exceeding its permissible levels. The CFS is stepping up the surveillance of powdered infant and young children formula in the market and will continue to closely monitor the recall of the related product. No other batches of the relevant product have been found to have excessive lead content so far.
The Centre for Food Safety, Photo source: reference image
In response to the incident, the DH set up a telephone hotline (2125 1199) starting from yesterday (July 26). From 3pm yesterday to 4pm today, a total of 276 telephone enquiries were received, mainly regarding the health conditions of infants. The Maternal and Child Health Centres also received six related enquiries today. Staff have provided advice based on individual circumstances. As at 6.30pm today, the DH has referred a total of 137 cases to the Hospital Authority for follow up. The hotline will continue to operate from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays), to answer public enquiries relating to the health conditions of infants and the switching of milk formula.
The DH again reminded the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product. If infants and young children feel unwell after consuming the product concerned or if parents are in doubt, they should seek advice from healthcare professionals as soon as possible.
Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula
DH launches Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control 2026, featuring optimised curriculum structure and record number of registrants from WHO Western Pacific Region
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 28) officially launched its Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control 2026, which is designed specifically for tobacco control professionals in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region. TACO optimised the Programme's curriculum this year, attracting over 900 tobacco control professionals from various countries and regions, setting a new record for registrations.
In April 2012, the DH was designated by the WHO to establish the WHO Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in Hong Kong, China, to serve as a regional hub that supports tobacco control and smoking cessation training for other member countries and regions within the Western Pacific Region.
"This year's Programme takes the form of webinars. Starting from today, one session will be held each month until November. Over 900 tobacco control professionals from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR, Japan, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Palau, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands are participating. Previously, the Programme consisted of short-term in-person or online courses lasting five consecutive days. In response to the participants' feedback and needs, we have further optimised the curriculum structure this year by organising five webinars over five months to provide greater flexibility, making it easier for interested tobacco control professionals from various regions to participate. The response to this new model has been excellent, with the number of registrants far exceeding previous years," saidthe Head of TACO, Dr Manny Lam.
The Programme is structured according to the core pillars of tobacco control introduced by the WHO. Over 10 overseas and local experts were invited to share their knowledge and valuable practical experiences in tobacco control, enabling participants to master techniques and strategies in tobacco control-related areas such as policies, legislation, law enforcement, health economics, publicity and advocacy, as well as the development of smoking cessation services and assessments to a further extent. Through this systematic training, participants will be equipped with the knowledge necessary to formulate comprehensive strategies to control the tobacco epidemic and counter emerging threats, and to plan tobacco control measures in a more forward-looking manner. The Programme also facilitates experience sharing in the region, enhancing the effectiveness of tobacco control efforts in the Western Pacific Region and collectively safeguarding public health.
The Technical Lead for Tobacco-Free Initiatives at the WHO's Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Ms Mina Kashiwabara, welcomed the active participation of the Western Pacific Region. She said, "Every new participant strengthens our collective capacity to protect current and future generations from the harms of tobacco use and nicotine addiction."
In addition to regularly organising the Programme, TACO also provides comprehensive smoking cessation training courses annually for healthcare professionals in the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR to enhance their capabilities in providing counselling and treatment for tobacco dependence. Furthermore, TACO organises annual training courses on Chinese medicine acupuncture to help frontline Chinese medicine practitioners from the three areas further improve their knowledge and skills in smoking cessation. The DH has also prepared a variety of resources for healthcare professionals, including patient pamphlets, referral forms to cessation clinics, "Very Brief Advice" and "Brief Intervention on Smoking Cessation" delivery toolkits, online training courses, and a Practical Handbook for Smoking Cessation Treatments. These resources are designed to support healthcare professionals in helping smokers quit through various channels. Relevant information has been uploaded to TACO'swebsite.
Members of the public can call 1833 183 or visit thesmoking cessation thematicwebsitefor more information on quitting smoking, and the available support tools and services.
Source: AI-found images
