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SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1978
GOVERNMENT TAKES POSITIVE STEPS IN DENTAL
HEALTH CARE OF COMMUNITY
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THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING POSITIVE STEPS TO PROMOTE DENTAL HYGIENE AND PROPER DENTAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY IN LINE WITH THE ACCEPTED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 10-YEAR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE WEEK-LONG DENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION AT CITY HALL THIS AFTERNOON.
THE 10TH BIENNIAL EVENT IS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG DENTAL ASSOCIATION.
DR. THONG SAID THAT AS A FIRST STEP IN THE INTRODUCTION OF DENTAL CARE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, IT IS GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO PROVIDE A SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE SCHEME FOR CHILDREN ENTERING PRIMARY ONE.
IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID, A DENTAL NURSES TRAINING SCHOOL WOULD SOON BE ESTABLISHED, WHICH IS TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE NOW IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION AT MORRISON HILL. THE DENTAL COMPLEX WILL ALSO INCORPORATE A SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC.
DR. THONG SAID THESE FACILITIES WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG THE PROVISION OF A SCHOOL DENTAL HEALTH SERVICE WHICH COVERS BOTH THE PREVENTIVE AND BASIC TREATMENT ASPECTS OF DENTAL CARE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
+THIS SERVICE IS MOST APPROPRIATE IN THAT IT IS AIMED AT A GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE ABLE TO DERIVE THE GREATEST BENEFIT, AS YOUNG RECEPTIVE MINDS COULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO ABSORB DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION MORE READILY AND AMONG WHOM GOOD DENTAL HABITS COULD BE INCULCATED AT AN EARLY STAGE,+ HE SAID.
DR. THONG SAID THE SCHEME WILL PROVIDE REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATIONS AND SIMPLE CONSULTATIVE TREATMENT INCLUDING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT AND THE SERVICE IS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY TRAINED DENTAL NURSES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF DENTAL OFFICERS.
THE MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR AND THE FIRST INTAKE OF STUDENT NURSES SHOULD BEGIN IN THE AUTUMN. THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE SHOULD THEREAFTER START OPERATION IN 1980 WHEN TRAINED DENTAL NURSES BECOME AVAILABLE ON GRADUATION FROM THE TRAINING SCHOOL.
/TE. THÔNG