Health-care workers who were infected say they are still dedicated to their jobs
Health-care workers who survived Sars have told the expert committee examining the outbreak that they are willing to put their lives on the line again if the virus re-emerges, a panel member said yesterday.
Rosie Young Tse-tse, one of the committee's local members, said she had been moved by stories from former Sars patients and health-care workers who were infected by Sars.
The patients have been testifying before the committee which will make recommendations to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa on Hong Kong's handling of the outbreak, which claimed 299 lives.
'When they talked about their experiences they were still very emotional. This is understandable because it was a really unique experience. They had a close shave with death,'' said Professor Young, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong's faculty of medicine and a former chairman of the Medical Council.
'But they have no regrets. They all said to us that should this happen again, they would be equally dedicated to their jobs, that they would remain fast in their posts, and that they would work for the welfare of Hong Kong.'
She was speaking yesterday at the end of a week-long plenary session of the Sars expert committee. Its report will be submitted to Mr Tung on October 2.
