WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1979
VIGILANCE AND HARD WORK OF HEALTH AUTHORITY HELP TO CHECK COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
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HONG KONG'S CLEAN RECORD OF MOST COMMUNICABLE DISEASES HAS BEEN ACHIEVED NOT BY LUCK BUT BY THE VIGILANCE AND HARD WORK OF THE HEALTH AUTHORITY AND HEALTH WORKERS IN THE FIELD.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. S.F. LAM, SAID THIS AT THE LIONS CLUB OF VICTORIA LUNCHEON MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE POINTED OUT THAT SMALLPOX HAS BEEN ERADICATED, ONLY A FEW IMPORTED CASES OF MALARIA ARE REPORTED, GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES SUCH AS TYPHOID AND DYSENTERY HAVE BEEN KEPT DOWN TO MANAGEABLE NUMBERS, AND HONG KONG HAS BEEN FREE FROM CHOLERA SINCE AUGUST, 1978.
+THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE MORE SERIOUS COMMUNICABLE DISEASES THAT HAVE BEEN CONTROLLED AND PREVENTED FROM OCCURRING OR SPREADING IN ANY LARGE NUMBERS AS TO JEOPARDISE THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HE ADDED.
DR. LAM DESCRIBED THE HEALTH SERVICE AS A SILENT SERVICE+ BECAUSE IT IS A RELENTLESS BATTLE CARRIED OUT BY A GROUP OF DEDICATED HEALTH PERSONNEL WITHOUT ANY FUSS OR FANFARE.+
HE PREDICTED THAT THE BATTLE AGAINST COMMUNICABLE DISEASES WOULD BE A DIFFICULT ONE THIS YEAR WITH THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, WHICH IS PUTTING A SEVERE STRAIN ON THE MANPOWER AND FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN THE HEALTH SERVICE.
WITH THE HELP OF MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE. WHO ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS, HEALTH PERSONNEL HAVE SET UP MEDICAL POSTS IN EVERY CAMP AND STAGING POINT HOUSING THESE REFUGEES, HE SAID.
THE SERVICE PROVIDED INCLUDES MEDICAL COVER FOR THOSE PŘESENTLY: ABOARD THE SKYLUCK AND THE FLEET OF SMALL BOATS GROUPED TOGETHER IN THE WATERS AROUND HONG KONG.
DR. LAM SAID INSPECTION IS CARRIED OUT ON EVERY BOAT THAT COMES INTO HONG KONG WHICH INCLUDES NOT ONLY LARGE OCEAN-GOING STEAMERS BUT ALSO THE NUMEROUS JUNKS, TRAWLERS, HYDROFOILS AND EVEN THE REFUGEE VESSELS THAT TURN UP EVERY DAY.
+THE HEALTH OFFICERS MUST BE SATISFIED THAT NOT ONLY IS THE HUMAN CARGO HEALTHY BUT THAT THESE BOATS DO NOT CARRY IN MOSQUITOES, RODENTS AND RATS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF SPREADING DISEASES LIKE YELLOW FEVER AND PLAGUE,+ HE SAID,
+THUS OUR HEALTH SERVICE PERSONNEL NOT ONLY GUARD AGAINST THE IMPORTATION OF DISEASES INTO HONG KONG ON LAND AND IN THE AIR BUT MORE IMPORTANT FROM THE VAST STRETCHES OF SEA AROUND US,+ HE ADDED.
DR. LAM SAID THE FIGHT TO PREVENT THE IMPORTATION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE INTO HONG KONG GOES ON 24 HOURS A DAY AND EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
/AT THE SAME