XN000022-1985-04-03 — Page 28

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985

HOT-LINE

SINCE MARCH 9, A 24-HOUR

INFORMATION SERVICE, IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, HAD BEEN IN OPERATION TO SERVE AS A VALUABLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR PERSONS WHO MIGHT BE SPECIALLY INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE.

DR THONG TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT WITHIN A SHORT SPACE OF THREE WEEKS SINCE ITS INCEPTION, MORE THAN 800 CALLERS HAD USED THE HOTLINE SERVICE AND MANY HAD EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH IT.

+THUS, THIS HAS PROVED TO BE A USEFUL SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CLARIFYING MUCH MISCONCEPTIONS AND HELPED TO ALLEVIATE UNDUE FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, + HE SAID.

REFERRING TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION FOR HEALTH CARE STAFF. DR THONG SAID THAT GUIDELINES TO HEALTH CARE STAFF HAD BEEN ISSUED TO ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS.

+THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES IN THE REGIONAL HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN ALERTED TO TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS ARE FOLLOWED.

+SPECIAL LECTURES ARE ORGANISED ON THE SUBJECT FOR THE MEDICAL STAFF AND, AGAIN, THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT IS CURRENTLY RUNNING A NUMBER OF LECTURES FOR NURSING AND LABORATORY STAFF IN THE MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

→THE CONSULTANT PATHOLOGISTS IN-CHARGE OF LABORATORIES IN REGIONAL HOSPITALS HAVE ALSO IMPLEMENTED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND GUIDELINES IN THE LABORATORIES,+ DR THONG SAID.

IF PROPER PRECAUTIONS WERE FOLLOWED, DR THONG SAID, THERE WAS PRACTICALLY LITTLE RISK OF HEALTH AND LABORATORY WORKERS

CONTRACTING AIDS,

ON THE MATTER OF SAFEGUARDS FOR BLOOD SUPPLY, DR THONG SAID A SCREENING PROGRAMME FOR ALL DONATED BLOOD AT THE HONG KONG RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS' TIME IF FUNDS WERE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

+THIS WILL ENSURE A SAFE BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE RECIPIENTS OF BLOOD, HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, IT WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE FACILITIES AT THE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY FOR TESTING THE BLOOD OF INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO THE HIGH RISK GROUPS ON A DOCTOR REFERRAL BASIS.

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