12and
10. CONTROL OF SPECTAL DISEASES.
cont'd.
72 71
24
the mosquito population does not change. Future control depends on the availability of trained personnel and adequate financial provision for this important work. With the advent of D.D.T. and the possibility of further measures of permanent control the annual cost of this service should gradually diminish.
Venereal Disease.
Some aspects of control of
venereal disease are mentioned earlier. As in other Colonial territories, prostitution is not recognized but will continue in the years ahead whatever title is employed. Thus, there is no provision for the compulsory treatment of prostitutes but, fortunately in Hong Kong, these women have largely come to recognize the value of treatment and are coming fairly well to the V.D. clinics. The Lady Medical Officer in charge has told me that, unlike the position in most Colonies, they will continue to attend for a fairly requisite period, even after symptoms have reen alleviated. The position in regard to male patients is much the same. With modern methods of treatment attend- ance will not need to be so prolonged and this will mean that more people will be attracted to clinics and more patients can be treated in any given period. The clinics have had to depend on the goodwill of the Services for supplies of necessary drugs. When more bed accommodation becomes available attempts will be made to adopt intensive treatment; this is impracticable at present. Veantime policy must be concentrated on more and better propaganda. It would also be well to provide for males facilities for protection before non-marital intercourse, as is done in the case of Service personnel.
•
Tuberculosis. The position in regard to pulmonary tuberculosis can be judged pretty well from previous references I doubt if the menace of this disease to the individual and to the public health generally can be over-emphasized. Its control depends on controlling all the factors recognized as necessary to the spread of tuberculosis, bad housing, overcrowding, malnutrition and ignorance. All these will have to be faced up to if any real progress is to be made. One of the first things essential is to establish mass radiography facilities so as to ensure rapid and early diagnosis. Plant is required that can be transported to different centres and, with this, there should be special clinics for these cases. There is no special accommodation where tuberculosis cases can be received at an early stage of their illness and be given the fullest chance of recovery. In the main cases only report in an advanced stage of illness, and go to hospital to die. A qualified specialist should visit the Colony and report on the extent of the disease and measures to be taken to control it. Such a step however implies acceptance of recommendations put forward, one of which in this case would certainly be proposals for a great extension of housing accommodation, and for slum clearance generally.
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42878-1
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