XN000022-1977-10-14 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1977

FIRST CHILD ASSESSMENT CLINIC TO OPEN ON MONDAY

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FIRST CHILD ASSESSMENT CLINIC WILL BEGIN OPERATION FROM NEXT MONDAY, PROVIDING SPECIAL IST CLINICAL ASSESSMENT FACILITIES FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN.

IT

IS TO BE CALLED THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON CHILD ASSESSMENT CLINIC IN RECOGNITION OF THE CLUB'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE MEDICAL PROJECT.

THE ORIGINAL SINGLE-STOREY BUILDING AT ARRAN STREET, MONG KOK, WAS DONATED BY THE CLUB FOR USE AS A CLINIC. A SUM OF $250,000 WAS ALLOTED FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COST OF ADDING ONE FLOOR TO THE BUILDING, WHILE THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON MADE A FURTHER DONATION OF $150,000 TOWARDS THE COST OF FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING THE CLINIC FOR ASSESSMENT PURPOSE.

THE TWO-STOREY BUILDING WILL ALSO HOUSE AN EAR MOULD LABORATORY WHICH WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR CHECKING AND REPAIRING HEARING AIDS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID CHILD ASSESSMENT SERVICES WERE BEING PROVIDED BY THE VARIOUS SPECIAL IST UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT ON A SESSIONAL BASIS.

+ IT IS CONSIDERED HIGHLY DESIRABLE TO SET UP A CENTRALIZED ASSESSMENT CLINIC FOR HONG KONG'S PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN IN NEED OF SUCH A SERVICE, HE SAID.

AT THE NEW CHILD ASSESSMENT CLINIC, A HEARING TEST WOULD BE CARRIED OUT ON THE DISABLED CHILDREN IN ORDER TO DISCOVER AND ASSESS WHETHER DEAFNESS IS A CONTRIBUTING OR ASSOCIATED FACTOR, PARTICULARLY IN THE MENTALLY RETARDED CASES.

+THIS IS A PREVENTIVE AS WELL AS A CURATIVE MEASURE SO THAT EARLY REMEDIAL ACTION, IF REQUIRED, COULD BE TAKEN, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE EAR MOULD LABORATORY WILL PROVIDE ECONOMIC SERVICE TO THOSE WHOSE HEARING AIDS ARE IN NEED OF CHECKING OR REPAIR. WHEN THE LABORATORY IS OPENED, ANY DEAF PERSON CAN COME ALONG AND HAVE HIS HEARING AID CHECKED OR REPAIRED AT MINIMAL COST.

+THIS IS YET ANOTHER PROJECT IN THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND BROUGHT INTO OPERATION THIS YEAR. IT WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME WHICH GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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