88.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES
Public appreciation of the value of these services in the maintenance of health among infants and expectant or nursing mothers was again reflected by the fact that, of the children born, 94.5 per cent vere brought to a centre for attention on at least one occasion. The corresponding figure For 1972 was 91.9 per cent. Of new attendants at the various centres, approximately 1 per cent were found to have abnormalities. Of these, the
majority had either congenital defects or displayed effects of prematurity.
89.
A further encouraging trend was the increasing appreciation by expectant mothers of the need for regular ante-natal care.
This was reflected by the average attendances per person at ante-natal sessions and by the low maternal mortality rate.
90.
The Yau Tong and the Wu York Yu full-time Maternal and Child Health Centres were opened in September 1973 and February 1974 respectively. This development brought the total number of full-time centres in the services to 22. Family Planning Service has been made available in 11 centres since October 1973-
92.
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD
The School Medical Service is operated by private medical practitioners under the aegis of the School Medical Service Board, an independent statutory body incorporated by ordinance. Remuneration to doctors is on a per capita basis, one-fifth of the annual fee being paid by the participating pupil and four-fifths contributed by the Government, which also meets the Board's administrative expenses.
93.
On March 31, 1974 the number of pupils participating was 76,177 from 706 schools, compared with 70,758 From 700 schools on the same date in the previous year. Doctors participating in the scheme numbered 193 compared with 191.
94.
DENTAL SERVICE
The dental service provides comprehensive dental care for all monthly-paid government officers, their dependents, and pensioners, in addition to a limited treatment programme for in-patients of government hospitals, prisoners, and trainees at training centres. Certain clinics in densely populated urban areas and in rural areas also provide emergency dental treatment for the general public. In addition, a monthly helicopter dental service makes available treatment to residents in inaccessible areas. There
are at present 33 government dental clinics, including a mobile dental unit.
95.
Fluoridation of the Colony's urban vater supplies began in 1961. The rate of enrichment was formerly at two levels. This was changed in 1967 to one part of fluoride per million throughout the year. This level was maintained in consideration of more recent work on the study of optimum fluoride levels for community water supplies. The cost of this operation was estimated at about 19.2 cents a person a year.
Dental health education plays
an important part in combatting dental disease, and the dental service continued to take advantage of major educational exhibitions to disseminate information and advice on dental health.
91.
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Medical and Health Department provides an advisory service to the Education Department on matters relating to environmental health and hygiene in schools, and this was continued in 1973. Inspections of schools were carried out by school health inspectors who took particular note of unsatisfactory lighting, ventilation and sanitary arrangements. Immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus and smallpox was carried out în schools during the year by staff under the direction of area health officers. The government chest service maintained responsibility for tuberculin testing and B.C.G. vaccination in schools.
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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
96.
The forensic pathology service consists of a main laboratory in the Hong Kong headquarters of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, and another laboratory in the Mong Kok Police Station, Kowloon. It deals mainly with medico-legal work in close association with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. This includes all homicidal deaths, deaths under suspicious circunstances, sexual offences, and other offences against the person. Autopsies are performed in both the Victoria Public Mortuary, Hong Kong and the Kowloon Public Mortuary, Kowloon.
97.
GOVERNMENT LABORATORY
The Government Laboratory provides specialist practical and consulting services in Chemistry and related sciences for those departments of Government that require them. Some work of a specialist nature is also carried out for the Armed Services and for international law enforcement agencies vith whom a close liaison exists. For the calendar year 1973, the total mumber of items examined constituted an all-time record of 64,586, increase of 62% over the previous year.
98.
In the General Division the examination of new commercial formulations for revenue producing materials, such as adulterated liquors,
2M
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