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Written by: Wu Dongwei
2020-02-18 18:00
Last updated: 2020-02-18 18:00To cope with the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, the SAR government is preparing to transform some general outpatient clinics in 18 districts into "designated clinics" to receive patients with mild fever or symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. From the perspective of prevention and control, the opening of "designated clinics" has the instinct to quickly diagnose, focus on the source of disease, and reduce the risk of community transmission. However, after the news came out, it caused a rebound in people's sentiment in multiple districts. It took less than two weeks and has occurred no less than 10 times. Demonstrations have partly turned into fierce police and civilian clashes. The epidemic is fierce, and society is unavoidable to panic. Worries about "designated clinics" are not unreasonable. However, the anti-epidemic work should be the responsibility of the entire people. If the panic is magnified indefinitely, the most basic empathy is lost, and the "designation" "Clinics" have more advantages than disadvantages, so the epidemic situation may be more difficult to control, and Hong Kong is still the victim.
In the face of the growing epidemic, the Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, publicly lobbyed the public early, saying that the "designated clinics" were designed to achieve "early detection, early isolation, and early treatment", and will invisible patients lurking in the community early. Sent to hospital for isolation. CUHK's Chair Professor of Respiratory Medicine Xu Shuchang also explained that the establishment of "designated clinics" can quickly diagnose patients and save them from waiting for procedures in public hospitals' Accident and Emergency Departments, which will help reduce the risk of community transmission. However, since the Hospital Authority announced the list of 18 "designated clinics" on February 6, in less than two weeks, there have been no less than ten demonstrations in various districts, among which petrol bombs were thrown at clinics and some Organized community demonstrations, some of which turned into fierce police and civilian clashes.
Protests against the establishment of "designated clinics" have been held in various districts no less than ten times. (Profile picture / Photo by Tong Xiaobin)
Anti-epidemic needs to compete with time to be moderately adaptable.
Looking back at the demonstration site against the "designated clinic", we can roughly sort out the two main reasons for the residents' opposition: the government has not consulted the area in advance, and the location of the clinic is too close to the residential area.
First, on the issue of consultation, many residents criticized the government for not bypassing regional consultation. For example, in the Changsha Bay procession that was launched earlier, Li Wenhao and Li Hanting, members of the district, criticized the government for declaring Changsha Bay Clinic as a designated clinic without a consultation. However, it did not explain the arrangement of the clinic in detail. Regional opinions. However, the spread of the epidemic in the public health crisis can be described as rapid. In order to cope with the spread of the epidemic, the world competes with time and strives to plug the loopholes in the spread of the epidemic as soon as possible. Under such circumstances, to prevent the outbreak in the community, it is understandable that the SAR Government has not been able to conduct regional consultations as slowly as before.
Some clinics are not "selected" for the first time, residents in various districts should not be overly concerned
As for the location of the clinic, Shen Zuyao, professor of medicine at Mo Qingyao, CUHK, pointed out that the ideal location of the clinic should be located in a remote location, such as a resort. If it is to be located in the urban area, it should not be too close to densely populated places such as residential houses and shopping malls. According to the list of clinics provided by the Hospital Authority, most of the sites are also kept at a certain distance from the dwellings. The residents should not have to panic like this.
CUHK Mo Qingyao Chair Professor of Medicine Shen Zuyao pointed out that the ideal location of the clinic should be located in a remote location, such as a resort. (Profile picture)
However, there are also several controversial items, including South Kwai Chung Clinic, Jockey Club Clinic in Kennedy Town and Kowloon Bay Health Centre. Taking the dispute over the South Kwai Chung Clinic as an example, District Councilor Wu Jiansheng explained that the clinic is only 20 meters away from Kwai Lian Village and is separated by a street. If it is used for epidemic purposes, the neighborhood may be exposed to suspected cases at any time. Caused a community outbreak. Democratic Party Legislative Councillor Yin Zhaojian added that the government counter-recommends the requisition of Kwai Chung Park or Kwai Chung Public Schools as designated clinics, because these two facilities have been abandoned and their geographical locations are relatively distant. Unfortunately, the government has not accepted them.
However, after reviewing the response measures of SARS in 2003 and H1N1 influenza A raging in Hong Kong in 2009, it is not difficult to find that the government has long experience in launching the "designated clinic" mechanism in order to prevent and control the epidemic. For example, during the spread of H1N1 influenza A, the Hospital Authority adopted the same scheme and changed eight general outpatient clinics to designated flu clinics, including Shaukeiwan Jockey Club Clinic, Sai Ying Pun Jockey Club General Clinic, Kowloon Bay Health Centre, China Kowloon Clinic, South Kwai Chung Jockey Club General Clinic, Fanling Family Medical Centre, Yan Oi General Clinic and Yuen Chau Kok Clinic.
It is worth mentioning that many of the "designated clinics" designated by the Hospital Authority this time are not "stuck in" for the first time. The list also includes clinics that have been requisitioned for epidemic prevention purposes, including those with similar geographical locations. Kowloon Bay Health Centre and South Kwai Chung Jockey Club Clinic opposed by neighbours. Therefore, the site selection mechanism of the designated clinics this time is not much different from the considerations of the past when fighting the epidemic. In theory, the use of the "designated clinics" also has experience, and the public should not be overly concerned.
Government needs to regain citizen trust
Citizens must be rational and calm and not be dominated by emotions
To effectively promote epidemic prevention measures, it is absolutely necessary for citizens to work together to fight the epidemic. However, if they want to gain public support, the government must deeply reflect on the reasons why they will lose trust with the people and cause difficulties in governance. Many analysts have pointed out that despite Hong Kong's SARS epidemic in 2003, it failed to maintain rationality and calmness in the face of new pneumonia. Instead, it was a panic, a panic, and even a hysterical panic, and its trust in the SAR government. Repeatedly low. The reasons are complicated, which may be affected by the restlessness provoked by the Anti-Amendment Movement, or may be caused by the government's inadequate epidemic prevention work.
If the infinite panic is lost and the most basic empathy is lost, it is not even possible to take a rational view of the "designated clinic". The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. (Photo / Photo by Liang Pengwei)
In any case, the SAR Government must be people-oriented, open and honest, and solve the concerns of the people before it can regain leadership as soon as possible and lead the people to fight this battle. As for Hong Kong citizens who are basically "middle-class", we are rational, modern, civilized, thinking, and empathetic. Even in the current epidemic, we must remain calm and shake off the "neighbor" Don't be prejudiced by prejudice and panic, then you can "stabilize the ruggedness together" and write "Immortal Hongjiang Famous Sentence".
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