Social Hygiene Service
The number of venereal diseases treated was 5,388 as compared with 4,607 in the previous year, showing an increase of 17.1%. Approximately 3.93% of the cases came from the teenage group. The common sexually transmitted diseases were gonorrhoea (51.2%), a syphilia (21.0%), non- gosococcal urethritis (18%), while the incidences of other sexually transmitted diseases e.g. chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum remained low.
0.53% of the expectant mothern showed an initially positive aerology but only 134 cases were found to be suffering from syphilis.
Figures 8 and 9 show the incidence of syphilia and gonorrhoea from 1965 to 1979.
New cases of leprosy totalled 70, representing a rate of 1,4 cases per 100,000 population.
The nursing staff trace contacts and follow-up defaulters and those who are frequently exposed. Health education in social hygiene is also emphasised.
The Special Skin Clinic which originally operated at Tang Chi Ngong Specialist Clinic, was moved to Tang Shiu Kin Hospital on 3rd April 1979.
Family Health Service
The Family Health Service providea a comprehensive bealth care programme for women of child-bearing age and children from birth to five years old.
There are a total of 38 maternal and child health centres, 23 of which are full-time and the rest are part-time operating on a sessional basis. Family planning service is available in 41 centrea, 6 of which are full-time while the rest are operated by mobile teams several tines a veek. Ante-catal and post-natal health sessions were held for mothers.
In 1979, 91% of the newborna were brought to a centre for attention and advice on at least one occasion. Approximately 1% of new attendances were found to be auffering from different types of abnormalities, such as congenital defects or effects of prematurity. A Comprehensive Observation Scheme to screen, detect and assess early developmental anomalies to eliminate or minimise resultant disabilities began in April 1978 and in 1979, 72,852 children in the 0 5 age group have been screened.
The total attendance was 1.6 million, similar to that of 1978.
Industrial Health Service
The Service advises on matters affecting the health and safety of workers. In 1979, there were 426 cases of decompression sicknese, 3 cases of contact dermatitis and 2 cases of lead poisoning notified. Among the non-notifiable occupational diseases, 227 cases of silicosia, 4 cases of gas poisoning and 1 case of arc eye were recorded.
1,050 field surveys were conducted, representing a marked increase of 91% as compared with that of 1978. The surveys were conducted to evaluate working environmenta including thermal comfort, ventilation, noises and lighting. Based on the findings, recommendations were made on measures to reduce industrial hazards and the promotion of industrial hygiene. A total of 6,740 laboratory analyses were conducted, including chemical analysis and urinalysis of government employees exposed to particular hazards.
There were 95.932 occupational injuries. In addition, 301 occupational deaths were recorded. These indicated an increase of 7.6% and 8.3% over those of 1978 respectively. Industrial health officers participated in medical boards to assess the disability of 24,293 injured workers in relation to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance. This also represented an increase of 9.1% over that of 1978.
Port Health
The Port Health Service enforces health control at ports of entry by sea, land or air so as to prevent the introduction of quarantinable diseases and undertakes other measures as required in the International Health Regulations. It also supervises the general sanitation of all porta, maintenance of vaccination centres, maintenance of a medical clinic at the Airport and compilation and dissemination of epidemiological information by regular communication with the World Health Organisation.
The continued influx of Vietnamese refugees exerted a heavy atrain on the service but there has not been any major outbreak of communicable diseases at the refugee campo –
In 1979, 4,238 ships arriving in Hong Kong were cleared. The number of vaccinations given at port health inoculation centres totalled 63,663.
Health Education
A Central Health Education Unit was established in April 1978, and the service continued through the year 1979. The unit provides professional advice on health education, and serves as a resource unit providing technical aids and information. It plane, co-ordinates and develops activities within the department and with other organisationa.
The Health Education Co-ordinating Committee advises on
The committee also programmes of activities and decides on priorities. provides general guidance to the Central Health Education Unit on the development and implementation of health education programmes.
The unit carried out a number of health education programmes in 1979, including subjects on personal health, communicable diseases control, health of the elderly, hypertension and eye-care.
/1,050 field
N.