XN000022-1984-09-11 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1984

BABIES NEED REGULAR CHECK-UPS

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PARENTS ARE ADVISED TO BRING THEIR BABIES FORWARD FOR REGULAR DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING SO THAT DISABILITIES MAY BE DETECTED AT THE EARLIEST MOMENT.

+AT PRESENT OVER 99 .PER CENT OF NEWBORN BABIES RECEIVE REGULAR NEONATAL EXAMINATIONS AT OUR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES IMMEDIATELY AFTER BIRTH,+ SAID DR BETTY EO-YANG, PRINCIPAL MEDICAL AND HEALTH OFFICER (FAMILY HEALTH SERVICE) OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

+MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND PRACTITIONERS HAVE ALSO BEEN ENCOURAGED TO NOTIFY OUR DEPARTMENT OF CONGENITAL MALFORMATION FOUND IN NEWBORN BABIES, DR EO-YANG ADDED.

THE DEPARTMENT STARTED THIS COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SERVICE IN APRIL 1978 TO PROVIDE REGULAR SCREENING FOR BABIES FROM BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE.

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CONGENITAL OR ACQUIRED DEFECTS ARE DISCOVERED AND REMEDIAL ACTION IS TAKEN AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE SCHEME OPERATES FROM 23 FULL-TIME AND 20 PART-TIME CLINICS AT THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES.

+ INFANTS CONSIDERED TO HAVE A GREATER THAN AVERAGE RISK OF DEVELOPING DISABLING CONDITIONS WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES WHEREBY SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS WILL BE ARRANGED, SHE SAID.

HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IDENTIFIED BY THE SCREENING PROGRAMME ARE REFERRED BY MEDICAL OFFICERS EITHER TO THE CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRE AT ARRAN STREET OR TO A SPECIALISTS CLINIC FOR ASSESSMENT, MEDICAL TREATMENT OR REHABILITATION.

OTHERS WITH UNIDENTIFIED DEFECTS OR BORDERLINE IMPAIRMENT ARE RE-ASSESSED PERIODICALLY AT A MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE OR THE ARRAN STREET CHILD ASSESSMENT CLINIC.

DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING TESTS FOR BABIES FROM BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE COVER HEARING AND VISION, PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, GROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, COORDINATION, LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL SKILLS.

+DURING REGULAR COUNSELLING OR INTERVIEWS AT CHILD HEALTH SESSIONS, CHILDREN WITH EARLY SIGNS OF ABNORMALITIES WILL BE REPORTED TO THE MEDICAL OFFICER-IN-CHARGE TO DECIDE WHETHER SPECIAL SCREENING TESTS OR REFERRALS ARE REQUIRED,+ DR EO-YANG SAID.

SIMPLE AND CORRECTABLE PHYSICAL DEFECTS, SUCH AS CLUB FEET OR BOW LEGS, ARE USUALLY TREATED AT MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES. MORE SERIOUS DEFECTS ARE REFERRED TO SPECIALISTS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT.

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