XN000022-1977-06-29 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1977

BETTER FACILITIES AT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS

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STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AS AN IMMEDIATE MEASURE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SESSIONS IN THE EVENINGS AS WELL AS ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN OUT-PATIENT CLINICS TO REDUCE THE WAITING TIME OF PATIENTS ATTENDING TREATMENT.

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG, SPEAKING IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON. JAMES WU, SAID THIS SCHEME OF EXPANDING EVENING CLINIC SESSIONS WOULD BE KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW AND FURTHER

IMPROVEMENT WOULD BE MADE.

ON A LONG-TERM BASIS, DR. THONG SAID, SEVEN NEW GENERAL CLINICS WERE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THE FIRST OF THESE WOULD BE OPENED BY THE END OF JULY IN THE EAST KOWLOON AREA AND TWO OLD CLINICS WOULD ALSO BE REPROVISIONED TO PROVIDE MORE FACILITIES DURING THIS PERIOD, HE SAID.

+WITH THESE MEASURES, THE DEMAND FOR OUT-PATIENT SERVICES SHOULD BE ALLEVIATED TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT AND HENCE REDUCE WAITING TIME AT THE CLINICS, HE ADDED.

DR. THONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO LOOKING INTO THE QUESTION OF PROVIDING COVERED WAITING AREAS OUTSIDE THE BUILDINGS IN A NUMBER OF OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WHENEVER AND WHEREVER PRACTICABLE.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY THE HON. MISS KO SIU—WAH, DR. THONG SAID CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN AS WELL TO A PROPOSAL TO OPERATE EVENING SESSIONS IN A CHEST CLINIC FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND DAY SESSIONS.

ON THE SUBJECT OF CHOLERA INOCULATION RAISED BY THE HON. PETER C. WONG, THE DIRECTOR SAID INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES OF INOCULATION AGAINST CHOLERA WERE NO LONGER REQUIRED FROM TRAVELLERS EVEN FROM INFECTED AREAS AMONG WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION MEMBER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING HONG KONG.

THIS HAS BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT SINCE 1974 ON THE ADVICE OF THE ORGANISATION, HE SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE BASIC REASON WAS THAT FROM EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE OVER NEARLY TWO DECADES, IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE VACCINE AGAINST CHOLERA, WHILE AFFORDING SOME PERSONAL PROTECTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL, DOES NOT PREVENT THE IMPORTATION OF CHOLERA INTO A COUNTRY FROM AN INFECTED AREA.

+ INSTEAD IT IS NOW UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED BY INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES THAT GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND PERSONAL HYGIENE ARE THE TWO ESSENTIAL FACTORS IN THE PREVENTION OF THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, + DR. THONG SAID.

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