HEALTH
flying doctor service cater to residents of remote areas and outlying islands. The department also operates 50 maternal and child health centres, three woman health centres, 14 student health centres, nine elderly health centres, 17 tuberculosis and chest clinics, 13 social hygiene clinics, five dermatology clinics, five clinical genetic clinics, five child assessment centres and other clinic services. Total attendance in 1998 was more than 12 million.
Private-sector services are provided by members of the Estate Doctors' Association, who run clinics in housing estates to offer a low-cost service for residents, by medical practitioners in private practice and by 201 clinics registered under the Medical Clinics Ordinance.
Health Education
The Central Health Education Unit advises and promotes health education activities. within the government and the community. It also produces a wide variety of educational material such as pamphlets, videos and exhibition boards. The Health Ambassador Programme continued to win acclaim in 1998. Volunteers from four major groups— senior citizens, teachers, women and students were recruited and trained to promote health education activities and increase health awareness within their own community.
A three-year 'Healthy Living into the 21st Century' campaign was launched to enhance public awareness of, and promote, healthy living. The Department of Health will embark on a number of media and educational activities in support of the campaign either by itself or in collaboration with other agencies.
Dental Services
The department's Dental Service promotes oral health in the community through promotive and preventive oral health services.
Oral health education and promotion activities are organised throughout the year to increase the general level of oral health awareness. These activities include outreaching programmes delivered through an Oral Health Education Bus and target-specific programmes delivered through maternal and child health centres, kindergartens and pre-school centres to more than 180 000 pre-schoolers every
year.
Preventive services are delivered through the School Dental Care Service which provides annual dental examination and basic dental care to about 420 000 children annually. A 24-hour interactive voice response system (hotline number 2713 7028) is available to provide voice and fax information about the School Dental Care Service and oral health. The domestic water supply is also fluoridated to reduce dental decay. Specialist oral health services are provided to hospital patients and those with special oral health needs. An emergency dental service is provided to the general public at 11 designated dental clinics.
Family Health Service
The Family Health Service's 50 maternal and child health centres provide antenatal, postnatal and family planning services for women of child-bearing age, plus physical examination, immunisation and a comprehensive observation scheme for children under six years. Health education and counselling is also provided for parents. About
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