HEALTH
crematoria, and provides six columbaria for the deposit of cremated ashes. As at December 1992, these columbaria contained 35 000 niches.
Auxiliary Medical Services
The Auxiliary Medical Services (AMS) is a disciplined medical civil defence corps with the primary mission of augmenting the regular medical and health services in times of natural disasters and emergencies, such as typhoons, rainstorms or landslides, aircraft crashes, large-scale fires, major epidemics, civil disturbance and influx of illegal immigrants.
Since its formation in 1950, the AMS has grown from a membership of 2 000 to over 5 800 in 1992. They come from all walks of life, comprising physicians, nurses, pharm- acists, dispensers, radiographers, paramedical personnel, civil servants and laymen in the private sector.
By statutory requirement, the Director of Health is the Commissioner of the AMS who is responsible to the Governor for the efficient operation of the corps. Assisting him is a number of deputy and assistant commissioners appointed on a voluntary basis.
With the exception of medical and nursing professionals, volunteer members all receive comprehensive training in the areas covering first-aid, squad drill, basic ambulance aid and practical ambulance manning, casualty evacuation, home nursing, clinical and hospital ward attachment, life saving, leadership and management development.
Under emergency situations, volunteer members would be mobilised and equipped with the necessary medical resources to provide immediate first-aid treatment for the injured at a disaster scene, to convey casualties to hospitals, to render nursing care to patients at both acute and convalescent hospitals and to work in collaboration with other rescue forces.
If paramedical assistance at a scene is required, the AMS Emergency Response Task Force (ERTF/AMS) would be available at short notice. Medical officers, nurses and trained members of the ERTF/AMS are equipped to undertake nursing aid and minor surgery at the spot.
Apart from being in full readiness to perform emergency roles and functions, AMS is committed to provide supplementary medical services to government departments and outside agencies for ambulance manning, life-guard duties, clinical services in methadone clinics and refugee camps, and first-aid coverage at country parks, cycling tracks, school activities and major public functions such as fireworks displays, Community Chest walks, charity shows, local festivals and sports meetings.
During the year, AMS continued to assist in the daily manning of 25 methadone clinics and provide round-the-clock clinical manning at 10 sick bays in seven Vietnamese boat people centres. More than 684 636 man-hours were committed to operational tasks in the year.
The AMS also carries the responsibility of providing first-aid training to civil servants. A total of 2 752 government servants completed the basic first-aid certificate course and qualified as first-aiders in 1992.
The Mui Wo Sub-unit Headquarters and the New Territories Regional Headquarters were set up in April and November respectively to enhance operational efficiency and to provide local training facilities.
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