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99. Health Education techniques included puppet shadow plays and this novelty was appreciated by mothers, who with others related to family and community health were interested in simple talks, group discussions, demonstrations, film and film strips and competitions.
100. Undernourished pregnant women, nursing mothers and babies, as in former years, were given diet supplements from Government resources. Congee meals to the number of 36,095 were provided in the three main Centres and, as available, ovaltine drinks, chicken essence and chocolate bars were dis- tributed at all Centres, Milk drinks provided by U.N.1.C.E.F. were also distributed to the number of 186,380.
101. In Appendix 7 are set forth details of attendances at ante-natal and infant health clinics.
School Health
102. Students in Government and Subsidized schools pay $5 and those in Private and Grant-in-Aid schools pay $15 annually to participate in the School Health Scheme. Teachers from the Subsidized, Private and Grant-in-Aid schools are now also permitted to enter the scheme for an annual fee of $15. Teachers in Government schools receive free medical attention by virtue of their conditions of service.
103. Participants in the scheme are entitled to free medical and dental treatment and free spectacles when necessary. When hospitalized, only maintenance charges have to be paid.
104. Although the number of schools taking part in the scheme has increased from 314 to 356, there was no correspond- ing increase in the number of students participating. Of a total school population of 201,148 only about 20.4% took advantage of the scheme.
105. The numbers being dealt with at present are as much as existing facilities can cope with and any material increase in these numbers will necessitate an increase in clinics and staff. To provide in some measure for an anticipated increase and algo
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to improve existing facilities, provision is being made for new clinics to be incorporated in the plans of certain Government schools which are being built.
106. A total number of 56,285 medical inspections were carried out during the year, 21,533 on new entrants to the scheme, 9,399 at later ages and 25,353 re-inspections.
107. These inspections disclosed little change from the previous year in the general state of health of school children. No apparent defects were detected in 26.79% whilst 51.62% were found to be suffering from minor defects requiring them to be kept under observation. The remainder required clinical treatment. Dental caries was again the commonest single defect.
108. The nutritional standard of new entrants was prac- tically as in previous years, namely 82.36% were normal, 16.83% slightly below normal and only .81% poor.
109. Routine inspections of school premises were carried out during the year by the School Health Inspectorate which also dealt with 197 fresh applications for premises to be used as schools.
Malaria and Mosquito Control
110. The population at risk in the areas controlled by the department is approximately 2,250,000 Chinese, and 25,000 Europeans--the latter figure does not include the Services. The cost of the work, which is by larval control methods is equivalent to some 20 cents per head of the population per annum. This also includes the cost of control of nuisance mosquitoes. In addition to the protection of the civilian population, much con- sultative work is done, and many surveys are carried out on behalf of the Services in the New Territories and outlying islands.
111. In addition to these control measures, investigations were carried out to determine the level of immunity of the rural population in the New Territories, and the value of DDT as a residual spray in the control of rural malaria. Work was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of several new larvicides.
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