XN000022-1979-10-14 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1979

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DENTAL CARE SERVICE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

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ALL CHILDREN ENTERING PRIMARY ONE FROM SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR WILL BENEFIT FROM THE SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE, A VOLUNTARY SCHEME ESTABLISHED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS PART OF ITS DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO EXTEND DENTAL CARE TO THE PUBLIC.

BEFORE THE SCHEME IS OFFICIALLY IMPLEMENTED IN 1980, OVER 10 000 CHILDREN WILL BE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A TRIAL PROJECT NEXT MONTH.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID: +WE INTEND TO INVITE PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS FROM 13 SCHOOLS IN THE VICINITY OF THE MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRIAL SCHEME SO THAT WE CAN MEASURE ITS ACCEPTANCE RATE AND IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AREAS.+

HE SAID UNDER THIS SCHEME SCHOOL CHILDREN WOULD BE GIVEN SIMPLE ROUTINE DENTAL TREATMENT BY DENTAL OFFICERS AND DENTAL THERAPISTS.

THE TREATMENT WILL INCLUDE A FULL DENTAL EXAMINATION, FILLINGS, SCALING, CLEANING OF TEETH AND IF NECESSARY, EXTRACTION.

+LIMITED ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT MAY ALSO BE PROVIDED, HE ADDED.

FOR ALL THESE SERVICES, ONLY A NOMINAL FEE OF $3 A TEAR WILL BE CHARGED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: THE EMPHASIS OF THIS SERVICE IS ON PREVENTION. APART FROM THE APPLICATION OF MODERN PREVENTIVE METHODS, SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL ALSO BE TAUGHT THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DENTAL HEALTH AND ORAL HYGIENE SO THAT THEY WILL ADOPT GOOD ORAL HYGIENE PRACTICE TO PREVENT DENTAL DISEASES DEVELOPING IN LATER LIFE.+

THE SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL PRIMARY ONE PUPILS IN THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR WHEN THE FIRST BATCH OF THE STUDENT DENTAL THERAPISTS COMPLETE THEIR TRAINING.

IT WILL FURTHER BE EXPANDED PROGRESSIVELY TO INCLUDE ALL CHILDREN IN THE PRIMARY CLASSES. THE SERVICE WILL BE IN FULL SWING WITH THE COMPLETION OF FOUR MORE CLINICS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS →→ TWO IN KOWLOON AND TWO IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MORE SWIMMING POOLS FOR NEW TOWNS IN NT

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BUILD SWIMMING POOLS IN EACH OF THE SIX NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

HE WAS OFFICIATING AT A CEREMONY AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL NEW TERRITORIES SWIMMING GALA AT FANLING SWIMMING COMPLEX.

MR. AKERS-JOKES