Dear members and colleagues,
In past few months, Hong Kong was hit by the SARS. Living in Hong Kong was affected. The disease claimed lives and broke up families. Despite CE reiterated that the authority should take all possible measures to protect health care workers from infection. SARS claimed six health care staff including one nurse. Everybody is concerned with the situation but have to think positively. Supports came in from every sector of society. People across Hong Kong send messages of gratitude to health care staff battling the SARS outbreak.
Now, travel advisory has been lifted and life is resuming normal. The Hong Kong government is gearing up for a massive community campaign to relaunch the city once the outbreak has stabilized. The rebuilding process is a long battle. The government cannot do this alone and need to get the public to rally behind to achieve those goals. We have to look to our healthcare resources to get the health system back on its feet and restore healthcare staff confidence. Building a purpose-build infectious hospital and re-examine issues of bed spacing and manpower are necessary. All these measures may cost extra resources, but they are necessary.
The recent tragic bombings in Morocco, the growing number of government travel advisories to that region and the explicit concern from individuals, member associations, sponsors and exhibitors have led International Council of Nurses (ICN) to make a difficult decision in mid-May to relocate the upcoming conference and Council of National Representatives (CNR) meeting from Marrakech, Morocco to Geneva, Switzerland on 27 June to 2 July. Representatives of the College will attend the meetings.
The term of services for the present Council will expire by the end of this year. We are now preparing for the election of the next Council for 2004 to 2005. You'll receive more details about the election in the future.
Alice Tsang (Dr)
President
College of Nursing, Hong Kong
會 長 的 話
各位會員及同業：
非典型肺炎肆虐香港超過三個月。市民生活難免受影響。雖然特首督促有關當局提供適當應變措施以求達至醫護人員零感染。無奈非典型肺炎已奪去六名前線醫護人員的寶貴生命。痛失緊守崗位的同業。我們面對疫病的焦慮可以理解，但仍要積極面對生活和未來。我們深深感激社會各階層人士的鼓勵和支持，有助於紓緩醫護人員的壓力，繼續投入抗炎。
本港疫病漸趨穩定，世界衛生組織早前亦已將旅遊警告剔除，市民生活開始回復正常。香港政府將推出一連串宣傳推廣活動，讓香港活躍的一面重現。重建過程是長遠而艱巨。重建社會之餘，期望有關當局整體檢視資源分配，病床數目及空間等問題，亦應考慮建立傳染病專科醫院。新安排涉及資源調配是在所難免的。
近期，摩洛哥的炸彈事件及各國對該區發出旅遊警告，加上個人、團體，贊助人及展覽商的關注，國際護士協會(ICN)於五月中作出決定將原定於摩洛哥的週年大會遷往瑞士日內瓦如期進行。學院將派代表出席會議。
學院應屆任期將於年底屆滿。新一屆的選舉活動即將推出，敬請留意。
曾秀梅(博士)
香港護理學院會長