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The total attendance figure at government out-patient clinics was 14.9 million in 1984, 9.1 per cent more than in the previous year.
Family Health
The Family Health Services of the Medical and Health Department operate 44 maternal and child health centres, providing a comprehensive health programme for women of child- bearing age and children aged up to five years. Family planning is an important component of the Family Health Services. Ante-natal and post-natal health consultation sessions are conducted for mothers. Immunisation programmes are carried out against tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles and rubella. During 1984, about 93 per cent of newborn babies were checked at the family health centres.
The comprehensive observation scheme to detect and assess early developmental abnor- malities, and where necessary to provide follow-up treatment, is now available at 44 family health centres. Children attending these centres may, if their condition warrants it, be referred to child assessment centres or various specialist units for further examination. The system enables rehabilitation processes to start as early as possible. Seven regional multi-disciplinary child assessment centres are included in medical projects planned for the next decade.
Health education is extended to expectant mothers at major government hospitals, with particular emphasis placed on the promotion of breastfeeding. A telephone service is available to answer enquiries from the public. The government-subvented Family Planning Association of Hong Kong runs 31 birth control clinics providing various services, including vasectomy and female sterilisation services.
School Health
The School Medical Service Scheme is operated by an independent School Medical Service Board. Participation is voluntary and for a token fee of $10 a year children from Primary 1 to Form 3 can receive free medical attention from a general medical practitioner of the school's choice. The government contributes $65 a year for each pupil enrolled and also bears the administrative cost. The general response to the scheme is good: more than 308 000 school children from 783 schools have participated representing about 40 per cent of the eligible school population - and more than 260 general medical practitioners have enlisted.
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The School Health Service, a government responsibility, deals with the environmental health and sanitation of school premises and the control of communicable diseases. School health officers, health visitors and health inspectors make frequent inspections of schools to advise on matters concerning the health of children and organise health education activities and immunisation campaigns.
Mental Health
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The Mental Health Service, in conjunction with other academic and voluntary bodies, provides a comprehensive psychiatric service for the mentally ill. Sophisticated treatment facilities are available at the two major psychiatric hospitals - Castle Peak Hospital with 1927 beds and Kwai Chung Hospital with 1 078 beds - and at psychiatric units in various regional and district hospitals. In line with the universal trend of operating smaller psychiatric units within general hospitals, an additional 2 400 beds are planned for such future projects.
Supplementing the hospital facilities are psychiatric day centres which provide a wide range of out-patient treatment, assessment, counselling and after-care services on a regional