THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1979
CANCER IS ALSO A SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEM
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CANCER IS NOT ONLY A MEDICAL PROBLEM BUT ALSO A SOCIO-ECONOMIC ONE AS THE MUCH DREADED DISEASE CAN AFFLICT BREADWINNERS WHO ARE IN THE PRIME OF LIFE.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NAM LONG HOSPITAL EXTENSION THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
HE POINTED OUT THAT CANCER NOT ONLY AFFLICTED THE ELDERLY BUT, CONTRARY TO COMMON BELIEF, ALSO OCCURRED AT ANY AGE INCLUDING INFANCY.
IN FACT, CANCER IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE CHILDREN OF HONG KONG AGED ONE TO 14, SECOND ONLY TO ACCIDENTS,+ HE SAID.
DR. THONG SAID CANCER HAS BECOME A LEADING HEALTH PROBLEM BECAUSE THE GENERAL TREND IN THE ADVANCES IN MEDICINE HAS CHANGED THE PATTERN OF DISEASES AND THE MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY RATES IN HONG KONG.
IN 1977 CANCER ALONE ACCOUNTED FOR 5,652 DEATHS, OR ABOUT ONE OUT OF FOUR DEATHS AT ALL AGES AND FROM ALL CAUSES OCCURRING IN HONG KONG
DR. THONG PAID TRIBUTE TO THE HONG KONG ANTI-CANCER SOCIETY, WHICH RUNS THE NAM LONG HOSPITAL, FOR THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE PREVENTION, RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR CANCER DISEASES.
THE HOSPITAL WAS FIRST OPENED IN MAY 1967 WITH 120 BEDS TO ENABLE THOSE AFFLICTED WITH CANCER TO RECEIVE CHEMOTHERAPY AND CONVALESCENCE AFTER SURGICAL OR RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT.
THE HOSPITAL WAS BUILT WITH DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND A FREE OFFER OF LAND BY THE GOVERNMENT.
IN JULY 1970 AN EXTENSION PROGRAMME WAS APPROVED TO INCLUDE ALTERATION TO THE MAIN HOSPITAL BLOCK TO PROVIDE ANOTHER 60 BEDS AND A FIVE-STOREY EXTENSION TO PROVIDE QUARTERS AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES.
THE NEW TOWER BLOCK EXTENSION WAS COMPLETED AND OPENED IN MAY 1978. IT ACCOMMODATES A LABORATORY, A NEW DIVERSIONARY THERAPY DEPARTMENT, OFFICES AND QUARTERS FOR MEDICAL OFFICERS.
DR. THONG, WHO IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE ANTI-CANCER SOCIETY, DISCLOSED THAT ANOTHER EXTENSION PROJECT WILL SHORTLY BEGIN, WHICH WILL ADD THREE MORE STOREYS TO THE TOWER BLOCK TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL QUARTERS AND RESEARCH LABORATORIES.
/PLANS