XN000022-1980-04-09 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1980

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SINCE 1976, MUCH PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE TO CREATE AN AWARENESS AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS OF THE MANY UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE DRUG PROBLEM AND TO CONVINCE THEM THAT

* SOMETHING CAN BE, AND IS BEING, DONE ABOUT BOTH THE

SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASPECTS OF DRUG ABUSE, AND

* THEY CAN HELP IN BOTH THESE FIELDS, AND THAT THE CAUSE

IS WORTH THEIR ACTIVE INTEREST,

+THE EDUCATION OF THE ADDICT, AND THE CORRECTION OF HIS INGRAINED ATTITUDES TO SOCIETY, IS NO LESS DIFFICULT A TASK THAN THE CHANGING OF COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TO HIM, MR TOPLEY SAID.

THE EMPHASIS OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES IS ON RESTORING PHYSICAL HEALTH, ON TRYING TO UPROOT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL OR EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCE ON DRUGS, AND LASTLY, TO FACILITATE RE-ENTRY TO SOCIETY.

AMS TRAINING CENTRE IN PIPELINE

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THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS TO BUILD ITS OWN TRAINING CENTRE TO PUT UNDER ONE ROOF VARIOUS TYPES OF TRAINING FOR ITS 6 000 MEMBERS.

THE AMS MEDICAL DEFENCE STAFF OFFICER, MR K.C. TONG SAID A SITE IN HO MAN TIN HAD BEEN EARMARKED FOR SUCH PURPOSE AND WORK WOULD START AS SOON AS FUNDS WERE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT,

THE PROPOSED TRAINING CENTRE, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF FACILITIES INCLUDING LECTURE ROOMS, NURSING WARDS, DEMONSTRATION ROOMS, A CO-ORDINATION CENTRE, PARADE GROUND AND A CANTEEN.

+IT IS ALSO INTENDED THAT THE CENTRE CAN BE TURNED INTO A CASUALTY RECEPTION CENTRE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY INVOLVING A LARGE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES, HE SAID,

AT PRESENT, AMS TRAINING COURSES ARE CONDUCTED IN CLASSROOMS OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS DURING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.

+THE TRAINING PROVIDED FOR AMS MEMBERS IS MULTI-FACETED,+ MR TONG SAID.

ALL NEW RECRUITS ARE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE 40 HOURS OF INITIAL TRAINING IN BASIC FIRST-AID, HE EXPLAINED. OTHER TRAINING PROGRAMMES INCLUDE CASUALTY EVACUATION, NURSING, METHADONE TREATMENT, THE MANNING OF AMBULANCES AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTRES, LIFE SAVING AS WELL AS CANOE LIFE GUARD SERVICES.

THERE ARE