In the early years of the Colony, sanitary conditions were very bad: early settlers found the place disease- ridden. Large numbers of the first troops to be posted here died of malaria and for many years a rela- tively high proportion not only of the troops but of the European civi- lian population died of fever.
To-day, of course, conditions are vastly different and the endemic dis- eases are well under control; the largest incidence of disease can be attributed to tuberculosis. week approximately 300 new are reported, not including which are not notified to the thorities.
of
Tiew of the new building looking up Kennedy Road.
The high racial resistance of the The dental service was previously Every local population prevents the disease and inadequately accommodated in cases from exacting a higher toll of life part of the old Sai Ying Pun Hos- those but produces at the same time a pital, where it was hampered by the
au- type of disease which gives rise to a little space at its disposal.
large proportion of infectious am- bulant cases which, in view of the
The physiotherapy department was Some idea of the magnitude Hong Kong's tuberculosis
type of housing and the degree of housed in the Radiological Depart- problem may be obtained from the fact that overcrowding, pass on the disease to ment of the Queen Mary Hospital, In where it suffered from the same dis- tuberculosis testing indicates that al- their numerous close contacts.
advantages as the dental service. most 95% of the population above these circumstances a realistic con- the age of 14 years has already been trol programme is virtually impos-
The work of the radiography sec- infected by the disease. More than sible. Satisfactory home isolation is tion is closely associated with that of one-third of the deaths from this impracticable and hospital isolation the tuberculosis service. Until re- disease occurred in children under is impossible because of the shortage cently it was operated in cramped Ave, and a BCG
programme was of hospital beds. commenced to offer vaccination ulti- mately to all new-born children. In adults, morbidity was highest in the 30-35 age group and mortality great- est in middle and later life.
During 1953, there were 3,573 deaths from all forms of tuberculosis.
Another view of the clinic.
circumstances in the Queen Mary
from Rehousing at economic rent, Hospital, remote
an
the Tuber- but providing separate accommoda- tion for families and members of families, would probably do more to reduce tuberculosis than any other
measure.
A more feasible and immediately realisable step was to provide a first- class government operated tuber- culosis clinic on the Island. The tuberculosis service had its accom- modation problems in the part of the Harcourt Health Centre in Wan chal which it had occupied, largely on account of the very great number of people who sought treatment at the clinic.
Persons at-
culosis Clinic, requiring the transport of patients from the Harcourt Health Centre to the Hospital. tending the new chest clinic and requiring to be X-rayed are now able merely to walk downstairs to the radiography section and the long journey is unnecessary.
Construction work on the new pro- ject began in May 1953 and in April of this year. Dr. the Hon. K.C. Yeo, Director of Medical and Health Ser- vices, formally opened the new Government Tuberculosis and Dental Clinic. This fine new building forms a very important addition to the medical facilities of the Colony.
After a great deal of careful con-
An inspection of the accommoda- sideration plans were prepared for a new clinic on a site at Kennedy Road, tion and equipment provided in the near the English Methodist Church new building leaves no doubt that in Wanchai. During the preparation there will now be full opportunity of the plans it was found possible to provide adequate accommodation not only for the chest clinic as originally proposed, but also for the dental service, a physiotherapy de- partment and a mass miniature radiography section.
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47
was
for really good work to be done in a district which so greatly needs it. The new surroundings should act as a genuine stimulus to the staff and should provide reassurance and com- fort to the members of the public who will use it.