XN000022-1981-03-31 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1981

CORNERSTONE IN MEDICAL GENETIC SERVICE

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DR K.L. THONG, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, TODAY (TUESDAY) OPENED THE MRS WU CHUNG PRE-NATAL DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY AT TSAN YUK HOSPITAL IN SAI YING PUN.

THE LABORATORY IS AN IMPORTANT CORNERSTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FULL MEDICAL GENETIC SERVICE IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

THE MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT, WITH SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT, IS DESIGNED FOR PRE-NATAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON EXPECTANT MOTHERS WHO HAVE SPECIFIC INDICATIONS THAT A SERIOUS HANDICAP MAY AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOETUS.

+THE SERVICE IS OF GREAT VALUE IN THE EARLY DETECTION

OF CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES AS MANY OF THESE DEFECTS CAN NOW BE DIAGNOSED BETWEEN 15 AND 20 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, + DR THONG SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT CONGENITAL ABNORMALITY DUE TO GENETIC HEREDITARY FACTOR IS AN IMPORTANT CAUSE OF DISABILITY. +PREVENTION OF CONGENITAL DEFECTS IS THEREFORE EXPECTED TO HAVE IMPORTANT EFFECTS ON THE LEVEL OF REHABILITATION SERVICE REQUIRED.

DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT THE ROLE OF GENETIC COUNSELLING AND PRE- AND NEO-NATAL DIAGNOSIS IN PREVENTING DISABILITIES IS BEING INCREASINGLY RECOGNISED AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS PLANS TO IMPROVE AND DEVELOP EXISTING SERVICE.

+THE LABORATORY MAY BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF GOVERNMENT'S OVERALL PLAN TO DEVELOP A FULL MEDICAL GENETIC SERVICE IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

THE LABORATORY WILL BE OPERATED BY FULLY TRAINED STAFF UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE PROFESSOR OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

DR THONG THANKED MR AND MRS WU CHUNG FOR DONATING $500 000 TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LABORATORY.

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