NO
2
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1978
COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SCHEME RECEIVES
ENCOURAGING RESPONSE
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THE COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SCHEME INTRODUCED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN MAY THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE REGULAR CHECK-UPS TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO THE AGE OF FIVE, HAS RECEIVED ENCOURAGING RESPONSE WITH ABOUT 25,000 CHILDREN JOINING IT SO FAR.
THE SCHEME WHICH IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CONGENITAL OR ACQUIRED ANOMALIES OF A CHILD ARE DISCOVERED, AND REMEDIAL ACTIONS TAKEN AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IS ONE OF THE MANY NEW MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES OUTLINED IN LAST OCTOBER'S REHABILITATION WHITE PAPER, AND ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
OF THESE 25,000 CHILDREN, ABOUT TWO PER CENT WERE FOUND TO POSSESS CONGENITAL DEFECTS OF VARYING DEGREES WHILE A NUMBER OF OTHERS HAVE RISKS OF DEVELOPING DISABLING CONDITIONS.
THOSE HAVING CONGENITAL ANOMALIES WERE REFERRED TO VARIOUS SPECIALISTS FOR TREATMENT, OR TO THE DEPARTMENT'S ARRAN STREET CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRE FOR CLOSE OBSERVATION.
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED HAVING POSSIBILITY TO DEVELOP DISABLING CONDITIONS ARE KEPT UNDER CLOSE OBSERVATION BY MEDICAL STAFF ASSIGNED TO THE SCHEME.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THE COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SERVICE IS PROVIDED AT THE DEPARTMENT'S 38 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG AND PARENTS WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE ARE URGED TO REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN FOR THE SCHEME.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +WE AIM TO COVER 50 PER CENT OR MORE OF THIS AGE GROUP OF CHILDREN NEXT YEAR AND WILL EVENTUALLY EXTEND TO HAVE A BLANKET COVERAGE FOR ALL CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO THE AGE OF FIVE.
HE SAID THE SCHEME IS AN EXPANSION OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES WHICH ALSO OFFER ANTE AND POST NATAL CARE TO THE MOTHER, AND HEALTH AND IMMUNISATION SERVICES TO THE INFANT.
UNDER THE SCHEME, ROUTINE CHECK-UPS OF A CHILD'S INTELLIGENCE AND PHYSICAL GROWTH WITH THE AIM OF DETECTING ANY ANOMALIES AT AN EARLY STAGE FOR REMEDY ARE CARRIED OUT AT FIVE STAGES, THE FIRST BEING SIX WEEKS AFTER A CHILD'S BIRTH AND THE LAST WHEN HE APPROACHES THE AGE OF FIVE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE CHECK-UPS MAINLY TO TEST A CHILD'S VISUAL, HEARING AND SPEAKING ABILITIES AS WELL AS HIS REFLEX AND SOCIAL ADAPTABILITY ARE CONDUCTED IN A ROOM SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
/+IT GIVES.....