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SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1978
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INCIDENCE OF BLINDNESS IN HONG KONG'S CHILDREN DECLINING
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THE PROVISION OF A COMPREHENSIVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICE HAS CONTRIBUTED LARGELY TO THE REMARKABLE DROP IN THE INCIDENCE OF BLINDNESS AMONG CHILDREN IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. S.F. LAM, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EYE CARE EXHIBITION AT CITY HALL THIS MORNING, DR. LAM SAID THE INCIDENCE OF BLINDNESS IN CHILDREN DECLINED FROM 5.8 PER CENT IN 1967 TO 1.8 PER CENT IN 1976.
THE FOUR-DAY EXHIBITION IS ORGANISED BY THE PENINSULA JAYCEES WITH HELP FROM THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT AND THE OPHTHALMIC SERVICE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OTHER PROFESSIONAL BODIES.
DR. LAM SAID 10 YEARS AGO THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF EYE COMPLAINTS LEADING TO BLINDNESS WERE INJURIES AND INFECTION.
+TODAY, THOUGH WE STILL HAVE INJURIES AND INFECTION CAUSING BLINDNESS, A NEW CAUSE HAS BEEN ADDED AND THIS IS DEGENERATION,+ HE SAID.
DR. LAM SAID THIS, IRONICALLY, HAS LARGELY BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE IMPROVED GENERAL HEALTH OF THE POPULATION, BETTER CURATIVE MEDICAL CARE AND A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING AMONGST THE CITIZENS OF HONG KONG.
+WE ARE NOW LIVING LONGER AND REACHING AN AGE WHERE WE ARE BEGINNING TO ENCOUNTER DEGENERATIVE CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROCESS OF AGING, WHICH AFFECTS THE WHOLE PERSON — HIS BONES, HIS HEART, MOST SYSTEMS AND ORGANS AND, UNFORTUNATELY, HIS EYES,+ HE SAID.
IN THE TREATMENT OF EYE CONDITIONS, THE ACTING DIRECTOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET UP A NUMBER OF OPHTHALMIC UNITS TO GIVE SPECIALISED MEDICAL TREATMENT TO THOSE WITH EYE CONDITIONS NEEDING IT AND TO PERFORM CORNEA TRANSPLANT OPERATIONS.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MANY VOLUNTARY BODIES OF PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZENS, WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME, EFFORT AND MONEY TO COMPLEMENT THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF EYE CONDITIONS.
DR. LAM SAID THE EYE CARE EXHIBITION WILL ENABLE THE PUBLIC TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THEIR EYES HEALTHY BY THE ACQUISITION AND FORMATION OF PROPER HABITS RESULTING
IN GREATER HAPPINESS THROUGH THE POSSESSION OF HEALTHY EYE-SIGHT.
THE EXHIBITION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 9.30 A.M. TO 6.30 P.M. DAILY UNTIL AUGUST 29. VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION WILL GET A SPECIAL BONUS OF HAVING THE IR VISION TESTED FREE OF CHARGE AND A BOOKLET ON EYE CARE.
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