XN000022-1974-04-14 — Page 3

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1974

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ANTI-POLIO CAMPAIGN STATISTICS

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A TOTAL OF 5,367 DOSES OF ANTI-POLIOMYELITIS VACCINE WAS ADMINISTERED IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE DISEASE THIS YEAR.

DURING THE WEEK ENDING ON MARCH 23, 1,237 DOSES WERE ADMINISTERED AMONG CHILDREN ON THE ISLAND, 2,572 IN KOWLOON, AND 1,558 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

OF THESE, 1,861 VERE FIRST-DOSE, 1595 SECOND-DOSE, AND 1,911 BOOSTER-DOSE.

THE FIRST PHASE OF THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN BEGAN IN EARLY JANUARY AND LASTED SIX WEEKS. THE SECOND PHASE, INTENDED AS A FOLLOW-UP, STARTED ON MARCH 18 AND WILL BE CARRIED OUT UNTIL AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY: +ANTI-POLIOMYELITIS VACCINE IS AVAILABLE FREE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT ALL THE DEPARTMENT'S MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES, AND THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS ARE INTENDED TO REMIND MOTHERS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS SERVICE, AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.+

CAMPAIGNS ALSO ENABLE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES TO DEAL WITH CASES THAT DO NOT COME UP DURING NORMAL SESSIONS,

MARCH WEATHER ROUNDUP

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MARCH 1974 WAS SUNNIER AND DRIER THAN USUAL WITH TOTAL SUNSHINE 24.7 HOURS ABOVE NORMAL, ACCORDING TO THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.

THE MONTH WAS THE SIXTH SUCCESSIVE MONTH WITH BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL. A TOTAL OF 31.7 MM OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED DURING THE MONTH LESS THAN 45 PER CENT OF THE AVERAGE VALUE.

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THE MONTH'S MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 27.5 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED ON MARCH 26, AND THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 10.5 DEGREES CELSIUS THE NEXT DAY, MARCH 27.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

A FULL WEATHER REPORT FOR MARCH, PREPARED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, IS AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION IN THE PRESS ROOM, G.I.S.