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8. Originally intended for the accommodation and treatment of those Chinese whose fears and prejudices against Western Medicine prevented their applying for relief at the Government Hospitals, these hospitals at a later period introduced and encouraged scientific methods. As prejudice disappeared and confidence grew, the demand for Western medicine has increased until now the number of in-patients being treated by this method is almost double that which still pins its faith to Chinese medicine.
9. The activities of the Chinese Hospitals include:-
(a) The care of the sick and treatment by Western methods or Chinese methods according to the wishes of the patients.
(b) Maternity benefits and infant welfare by Western methods only.
(c) Vaccination.
(d) Health propaganda.
(e) Assistance to the destitute.
(f) The provision of coffins for and the burial of the dead.
10. In spite of the financial difficulties caused by the recent economic depression and the consequent reduction in the rentals from property, it has been found possible to maintain the improvements previously effected and even to add to them in certain important particulars:
(a) Early in the year 1936, the Directors converted a portion of the old outpatient department at the Tung Wah Hospital into a children's ward of twenty cots. By increasing the number of windows and doors, it has been made into a light and airy ward which is usually fully occupied.
(b) A male fracture ward of sixteen beds was made in another part of the former outpatient department.
(c) The waste land in front of the main entrance to the New Block has been made into a garden and adds considerably to the appearance of the hospital grounds.
(d) As most of the Kwong Wah Hospital buildings are old, considerable repairs had to be undertaken after the August Typhoon.