HEALTH
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In 1996, two staff attended paramedical training in the Justice Institute of British Columbia, Canada.
The AMS is the government organisation responsible for qualifying first aiders. In 1997, 3 250 people were awarded first aid certificates by the AMS. In addition to providing the basic training programmes, the AMS also assists government departments to design tailor-made modules to suit the needs of individual departments. Upon request, the AMS will also give advice on safety management within working premises to provide a safer and healthier working environment.
With the commencement of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation in June 1997, the AMS, together with the Occupational Safety and Health Council, have jointly organised first aid courses starting from August 1997 for the targeted population affected by the regulation.
In the summer of 1997, the AMS launched a Youth Ambassador Scheme to encourage youths to adopt a healthy life style, as well as to develop their sense of citizenship through participation in various programmes, such as life skills training, recreational activities and community services. A total of 250 youths aged from 11 to 16 residing in the New Territories West joined this meaningful scheme and attended a series of training programmes conducted by the AMS.
Other services provided by the AMS included: first aid coverage at country parks, cycle tracks, school activities and major public functions such as the 1997 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund; paramedical assistance at accident scenes by the AMS Emergency Response Task Force; non-emergency ambulance transfer service for patients requiring transfer services; daily manning of 21 methadone clinics; and round-the-clock clinical services at sick bays of Vietnamese migrant detention centres.
Environmental Health
Working under the policy guidance of the two municipal councils, the Urban Services Department (USD) and the Regional Services Department (RSD) are responsible for environmental health and hygiene in Hong Kong. This includes cleaning streets and gullies; collection of nightsoil, refuse and junk; management of refuse collection points, public toilets and bathhouses; pest control; and services for the dead.
The Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign, organised by the Joint Provisional Urban Council/Provisional Regional Council Keep Hong Kong Clean Steering Committee, continued its effort to educate the public to keep the environment clean through the implementation of a series of educational and community involvement programmes. District-based clean-up activities were also organised to
to encourage public participation. District bodies were encouraged to apply for subsidy under the Keep Hong Kong Clean Activities Funding Scheme to organise Keep Hong Kong Clean projects.
Law enforcement action was stepped up and the USD and RSD between them prosecuted 33 223 litterbugs during the year. They were fined a total of $14.27 million during the year.
Pest Control
The USD and RSD carry out integrated pest control programmes to prevent vector- borne diseases. Measures included environmental improvement, eradication of