July 21 Press Conference Highlights (medical care during Shanghai World Expo)

Jul 22, 2010

Chen Qiwei, spokesman of Shanghai Municipal Government
Song Yaojun, director of Emergency Office of Shanghai Public Health Bureau
Li Zhongyang, deputy director of Shanghai Patriotic Health Campaign Committee

Shanghai TV: I would like to ask about tobacco control volunteers, have they entered the Expo site? When do they start tobacco control? What specifically do they do?

Li Zhongyang: We have not only gathered the information of volunteers on tobacco control but also clarified their specific duties and work requirements. We also prepared a feedback table for every volunteer involving in tobacco control in the Expo site. The main tasks for volunteers are two: First is to help check the tobacco control situation, and the second is to help stop illegal smoking. We have arranged volunteers from Huangpu, Luwan and Pudong districts to enter the site in late July.

South China Morning Post: I would like to know why Shanghai Municipal Government has put a lot of effort into promoting health education and public health programs. Could you explain the necessity and urgency of the work?

Li Zhongyang: It’s because of the theme of Shanghai World Expo - “Better City, Better Life.” Health should be the premise and basis of a better life. Without health, people can’t enjoy a better life, nor create a better life. So we take Expo as an opportunity to promote public health to better interpret the theme.

Meanwhile, we can take a look at the current major diseases and mortality changes in Shanghai, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases and diabetes. They are becoming our health enemies – they are closely related to people's unhealthy lifestyle. So we find it necessary to hand out health-support tools to educate the public about healthy habits in their daily lives.

South China Morning Post: Is it related to the aging population?

Li Zhongyang: Of course they are related to the aging population. But many senior citizens in Shanghai have an unhealthy lifestyle, such as unsuitable diet, inactivity, smoking, and psychological problems. So we want to spread the knowledge of healthy lifestyles and help them get rid of unhealthy lifestyles, and ultimately residents can manage their health by themselves.

Xinhua News Agency: Is it the first time in the history of Expo for healthcare and meteorological departments to forecast medical situations? Is this prediction only for medical facilities in the Expo site or to the public?

Song Yaojun: As to predicting key diseases in the Expo site for the next day based on meteorological factors, this is the first time in the Expo’s history. We are also setting up a math model based on the data of diseases in the first two months with the municipal meteorological bureau. This type of information is for the command and operations center and visitor service center of the Expo site. The main purpose is to better serve visitors and to ensure healthy and safe tours.

Shanghai Daily: I just read the first page on the medical services, I would like to ask what diseases visitors usually have in the Expo site apart from about one quarter of them suffering trauma, fractures and heatstroke. What is the situation for the other 75 percent of patients? More than 8,000 people have received medical attention at entrances or exits of the Expo site, what are the main causes? Is it heatstroke, especially in the morning rush hour with many visitors and long queues? Do we have relevant policies to tackle the problem?

Song Yaojun: Generally speaking, at large-scale activities, especially outdoor activities, there are some common diseases, so we pay special attention to some diseases according to our experience, source of people and their statistics in the Expo. What you just mentioned are some common diseases. It is very difficult to have figures for the other 75 percent of cases as the situation is very complicated. Second, we added some clinics at the entrances and exits of the Expo site. We found the diseases are mainly fatigue-related ones.

China News Service: You said that drinking water in the World Expo site would be checked online. Do you use the Internet of Things to check drinking water? To be more specific, how often do you check in 24 hours, do you have professional staff for this?

Song Yaojun: We have installed equipment on the main pipes and small pipes, including the catering outlets. With these sensors, we can check the water quality in real time. The data is sent with wireless technology to a central office. At the same time we monitor the figures at Shanghai Health Inspection Office as there is a terminal there also. It will sound an alarm if there is any abnormal indicator. Five teams check 102 drinking water facilities in the Expo site before it opens every day in the morning to guarantee the safety of the water.

Chen Qiwei: Let’s call it a day for the press conference, thank you.