XN000022-1971-06-16 — Page 7

Wednesday, June 16, 1971

LEPROSY UNDER CONTROL IN HONG KONG

Government Plans To Phase Out Leprosarium

Plans for phasing out and eventually closing the leprosarium

on Hay Ling Chau are now being considered by Government.

Leprosy has now been brought under control in Hong Kong, thanks

to well-planned leprosy care and control programmes conducted by the Leprosy

Mission, Hong Kong Auxiliary end the Medical and Health Department.

The general pattern throughout the world is to integrate leprosy

treatment into normal medical services, as it is thought that the admission

of patients into a leprosarium, as distinct from a general hospital, makes

subsequent rehabilitation and integration into the community more difficult.

For many years, the Social Hygiene Services of the Medical and

Health Department have been providing out-patient treatment for leprosy

patients through their special "skin" clinics, and leprosy patients suffering

from other diseases are already being treated in the public wards of

Government hospitals.

The number of patients on Hay Ling Chau has been decreasing each

year. Once there were 540 patients, today there are only 215, including

118 non-contagious patients who are admitted only for follow-up, observation,

convalescence, etc.

By 1974, when the change is contemplated, it is estimated that

there will be less than 80 patients needing continued institutional care

while others can be treated on an out-patient basis.

/For these