HEALTH
Family Health
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The Family Health Service operates a total of 38 centres, each of which provides a comprehensive health care programme for women of child-bearing age and children up to five years. Family planning is an important component of the Family Health Service. In 1978, more than 90 per cent of new-born babies were taken to a centre for attention and advice on at least one occasion. A comprehensive observation scheme was introduced in April, 1978, to provide special attention to infants and children with a higher than average risk of developing disabilities, so that early remedial action can be taken.
The government-subvented Family Planning Association of Hong Kong runs a further 22 clinics that provide vasectomy, female sterilisation and sub-fertility services as well as advice to young people. It conducts educational programmes for schools and community agencies; runs training programmes for midwives, teachers and social workers; organises information and publicity campaigns; and carries out clinical trials and surveys-
School Health
The School Medical Service is operated by the School Medical Service Board, an independent body incorporated by ordinance. Participation is voluntary and, for a contribution of $5 a year, schoolchildren can receive free medical treatment. The government contributes $30 a year for each pupil enrolled and also covers the board's administrative expenses.
The School Health Service, a government responsibility, deals with the environ- mental health and sanitation of school premises and the control of communicable diseases. School health inspectors undertake routine inspections and health officers immunise schoolchildren against childhood infectious diseases. During the year, rubella vaccination was introduced into the school immunisation programme.
Mental Health
The Mental Health Service provides full-time care for psychiatric patients at the 1,921-bed Castle Peak Hospital. A further 300 beds are available at the Lai Chi Kok Hospital for long-term patients. The psychiatric unit in Kowloon Hospital and the university psychiatric unit in Queen Mary Hospital provide a comprehensive psy- chiatric service in a general hospital setting. The 1,300-bed psychiatric wing now being built at Princess Margaret Hospital will be completed by 1980.
Supplementing hospital treatment are five day centres the Hong Kong Psy- chiatric Centre, the psychiatric unit in Kowloon Hospital, the Yau Ma Tei Psy- chiatric Centre, the Chai Wan Psychiatric Centre and the South Kwai Chung Psy- chiatric Centre. Occupational, social and recreational therapies are provided at the centres. Severely sub-normal patients are cared for at Siu Lam Hospital. At the end of the year, the Caritas Medical Centre extension was completed and it will provide 288 additional beds for mentally retarded children who require hospital treatment. Voluntary agencies are working closely with the Mental Health Service to assist in the rehabilitation of patients before they return to full-time activities in the community.