HEALTH
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Wah Group of Hospitals, the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association, the Grantham Hospital, the Mission to Lepers Hong Kong Auxiliary, the Pok Oi Hospital and other organizations. The combined estimated expenditure of the Medical and Health Department and the medical subventions represents 8.41 per cent of the Colony's total estimated expenditure of $1,496,032,510. Estimated capital expenditure for the Medical and Health Department was $12,776,500.
There are five statutory bodies dealing with the registration of medical practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and midwives. The Hong Kong Medical Council is responsible for the registration of medical practitioners and has disciplinary responsibilities under the Medical Registration Ordinance, 1957; it is not an examining body. The Dental Council, Pharmacy Board, Nurses Board and Midwives Board all maintain registers, regulate training, hold examinations leading to registration or enrolment and have dis- ciplinary powers.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Following the outbreaks of cholera in the previous three years, and with the continuing incidence of the disease in nearby countries, special preventive measures were taken throughout the year. Quarantine restrictions were maintained in respect of various neighbouring countries declared infected. Bacteriological investiga- tion was carried out of all specimens sent to government laboratories from cases of gastro-enteritis and there was daily sampling of nightsoil and routine sampling of seawater, well water and foodstuffs liable to be sources of transmission of the vibrio. A mass immuniza- tion campaign against cholera commenced in April.
Thirty-four cases of cholera with four deaths occurred during the year. The first case was a completely sporadic one, notified on 19th February; there were no more cases at that time and the Colony was declared free from infection on 29th February. A further cases was notified on 30th April, and subsequently 32 more cases were reported, the last one on 30th June. The Colony was declared free from infection on 11th July.
Most of the patients came from tenements, resettlement estates and squatter areas, and no cases occurred amongst the boat-dwellers. One case, notified on 12th May, was traced to a food handler in a