XN000022-1975-03-14 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1975

HONG KONG MAKES +IMPORTANT PROGRESS+ IN CONTROL OF TB

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TWO LEADING BRITISH CHEST SPECIALISTS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT MORE HEALTH EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS BE CONDUCTED IN HONG KONG TO ALERT PEOPLE WITH PERSISTENT COUGH, LOSS OF WEIGHT, FEVER OR OTHER SUSPICIOUS SYMPTOMS, TO GO IMMEDIATELY FOR AN EXAMINATION IN GOVERNMENT CLINICS.

*THE LAUNCHING OF SUCH CAMPAIGNS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO HASTENING THE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF TUBERCULOSIS, SAY PROFESSOR J.G. SCADDING AND DR. WALLACE FOX.

PROFESSOR SCADDING WAS PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE CARDIOTHORACIC INSTITUTE, BROMPTON HOSPITAL, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, AND DR. FOX IS DIRECTOR OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL'S TUBERCULOSIS AND CHEST DISEASES RESEARCH UNIT.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AT THE INVITATION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ASSESS THE PRESENT POSITION OF TUBERCULOSIS AS A HEALTH PROBLEM WITH A VIEW TO ADVISING ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.

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IN A JOINT STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY AT THE END OF THEIR VISIT HERE. THE TWO SPECIALISTS SAID IMPORTANT PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN HONG KONG DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS IN TACKLING THE PROBLEM OF TUBERCULOSIS.

MUCH OF THIS, THEY SAID, HAD BEEN THE RESULT OF RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN BY THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT SERVICES BOTH GOVERNMENTAL AND THOSE OF THE ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS AND CHEST DISEASES ASSOCIATION AND HAVEN OF HOPE SANATORIUM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BRITISH MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.

THE RESEARCH, WHICH HAS BEEN DIRECTED ESPECIALLY TO THE PROBLEMS EXISTING IN HONG KONG, HAS LED TO IMPORTANT CHANGES IN METHODS OF TREATMENT AND CONTROL.

PROFESSOR SCADDING AND DR. FOX SAID THE RESEARCH HAD ESTABLISHED THAT IT WAS NOW POSSIBLE TO TREAT MOST PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM TUBERCULOSIS WITHOUT ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL.

+THE SUCCESS OF THIS DEPENDS ON THE AVAILABILITY, THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT CHEST CLINIC SERVICE, OF FULLY SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION OF COMBINATIONS OF ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS DRUGS WHICH HAVE BEEN SHOWN BY RESEARCH TO BE EFFECTIVE IN HONG KONG, THEY SAID.

DOTH PROFESSOR SCADDING AND DR. FOX SPOKE HIGHLY OF THE B.C.G. PROGRAMMES IN HONG KONG, WHICH THEY SAID HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING THE VACCINATION OF AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH PROPORTION OF NEW-BORN INFANTS.

/+THERE IS