XN000022-1980-09-10 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1980

DR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT EDUCATION ON THE PREVENTION SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENT OF CANCER WAS NECESSARY TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF THE DISEASE.

+THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE TAUGHT THAT RECOGNISING SYMPTOMS AND SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE IN TIME ARE KEYS TO THE SUCCESS OF TREATMENT, SHE SAID.

HEALTH EDUCATION THROUGH THE PRESS, RADIO AND TELEVISION IS ONE EFFECTIVE MEANS TO BRING HOME THE MESSAGE.

IN ORDER TO PLAN, ORGANIZE AND COORDINATE ALL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT WAS ESTABLISHED, AND HAS INVOLVED MANY PROFESSIONAL BODIES IN MOUNTING EXHIBITIONS FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF ANTI-CANCER INFORMATION,

EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING HEALTHY HABITS IS

EQUALLY IMPORTANT, SAID DR LEUNG.

ANTI-SMOKING EDUCATION AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN, FOR INSTANCE, SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ANY CANCER EDUCATION PROGRAMME, SHE SUGGESTED.

+ONLY THROUGH A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISEASE COULD WE DISSIPATE FEAR AND TAKE SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO COMBAT THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISABILITIES BROUGHT BY CANCER, SHE ADDED.

THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT, USING SUITABLE AUDIO-VISUAL SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS, HAS HELPED SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TO INCLUDE CANCER EDUCATION IN THEIR CURRICULUM.

DR LEUNG ALSO CALLED ON MEDICAL, NURSING AND PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PLAY THE ROLE OF CANCER EDUCATORS, AS FACE-TO-FACE EDUCATION IS LIKELY TO HAVE FAR MORE MOTIVE POWER THAN OTHER APPROACHES.

GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS ******

YOUTH GROUPS WHO NEED MONEY TO CARRY OUT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS INITIATED BY THEMSELVES MAY NOW APPLY FOR SUBSIDIES UNDER A SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE DEPARTMENT IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS UNDER THE +OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME+ WHICH ENCOURAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO START AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE SERVICE PROJECTS.

OVER $88 000 WERE ALLOCATED IN 1979-80 FOR 82 APPROVED PROJECTS, WHICH BROUGHT TO $639 000 THE AMOUNT OF GRANTS GIVEN TO A TOTAL OF 505 PROJECTS SINCE THE SCHEME WAS SET UP IN 1974.

PREVIOUS EFFORTS COVERED SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED, YOUNG PEOPLE, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND WORKS PROJECTS. THEY WERE CARRIED OUT BY 17 700 YOUNG PEOPLE AND BENEFITTED AN ESTIMATED 856 000 PEOPLE.

/A SPOKESMAN