HEALTH
clinics. Registered medical practitioners in the Estate Doctors' Association set up clinics in housing estates to provide a low-cost service for local residents. Private medical practi- tioners continued to see the majority of out-patients.
Family Health
The Family Health Services of the Department of Health operate 45 maternal and child health centres, providing a comprehensive health programme for women of child-bearing age and children aged up to five years. Ante-natal and post-natal medical consultation as well as family planning service are offered to women. Immunisation programmes are carried out against tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles and viral hepatitis B. During the year, over 90 per cent of newborn babies attended the maternal and child health centres.
Under the Comprehensive Observation Scheme, children are assessed at different ages for detection of early developmental abnormalities. If necessary, they are referred for specialist clinics or to child assessment centres for further examination.
At present, there are three child assessment centres. The multi-disciplinary approach adopted there ensures early rehabilitation for the child. Five more centres have been included in the Department of Health's development programme.
Health education is an essential component of the Family Health Services. In addition to health talks and counselling on child care offered at centres, health education for ex- pectant mothers is also extended to government hospitals, with particular emphasis 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 35 birth control clinics, providing such services as pre-marital counselling, contraception, sterilisa- tion, vasectomy and advice on sub-fertility. There is also emphasis on health education and publicity on family planning and sex education.
School Health
The School Medical Service Scheme is operated by an independent School Medical Serv- ice Board. Participation is voluntary and all children from Primary 1 to Form 3 of the participating schools can join the scheme by paying a token fee of $10 a year. The general response to the scheme is good and as at November 1, 1989, more than 360 000 children from 1 090 schools have taken part – representing about 46 per cent of the eligible school population - and about 520 general medical practitioners have enlisted. Starting from November 1, 1989, each child has to pay $10 for each consultation made at the chosen medical practitioner's office. The government contributes $120 a year for each pupil enrolled and also bears the administrative cost.
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 regular inspections of schools to advise on matters concerning the health of children and organise health education activities and immunisation campaigns.
Port Health
The Port Health Service is the control authority to prevent the introduction of quaran- tinable diseases into Hong Kong via air, land, rail or sea, and to enforce the measures
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