XN000022-1993-08-07 — Page 4

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1993

GOVERNMENT'S

A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN THIS DIRECTION WAS THE SUPPORT FOR FIVE NEW REGIONAL COMMUNITY REHABILITATION NETWORKS.

AND

MRS GOODSTADT EXPLAINED THAT THESE WOULD COMBINE MEDICAL REHABILITATION EXPERTS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS, TOGETHER WITH PATIENT SELF-HELP GROUPS.

THE FIRST TWO NETWORKS SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL WITHIN A YEAR.

MRS GOODSTADT WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE HONG KONG NEW VOICE CLUB HEAD OFFICE.

IN

SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE CLUB'S OUTSTANDING RECORD PIONEERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-HELP GROUPS FOR PATIENTS OF SERIOUS DISEASES.

THE CLUB PROVIDES SERVICES FOR SOME 3,500 HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR VOICE OR NORMAL SPEAKING ABILITY BECAUSE OF CANCER, STROKES OR OTHER ILLNESSES.

SHE EMPHASISED THAT ALTHOUGH MORE PEOPLE NOW SURVIVED WHAT WERE FORMERLY KILLER DISSEASES, THEY WERE OFTEN LEFT CHRONICALLY ILL AND UNABLE TO WALK, TALK AND SOMETIMES BREATHE COMFORTABLY.

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"WE HAVE TO SEE MEDICAL TREATMENT AS JUST THE FIRST STAGE IN A COMPLEX PROCESS OF REHABILITATION, SHE ADDED, 'DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE PATIENT, RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON THE FAMILY AND ENSURE THAT SICK PERSON RETURNS TO AS FULL, NORMAL AND SATISFYING A LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE.

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PNEUMOCONIOTICS GIVEN BETTER PROTECTION

SUFFERERS OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS WILL BE GIVEN BETTER PROTECTION FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1993 LAST MONTH, THE COMISSIONER FOR LABOUR,

MRS KATHERINE FOK, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN FOR THE ORDINANCE, MRS FOK SAID: "THE NEW ARRANGEMENT WILL PROVIDE

• CONTINUED SUPPORT TO PNEUMOCONIOSIS SUFFERERS AND ENSURE THAT THEY WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AS THEIR HEALTH DETERIORATES.

UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, COMPENSATION PAYMENTS WILL BE PAID MONTHLY UNTIL A PNEUMOCONIOTIC'S DEATH," SHE SAID.

"IN THE PAST, PNEUMOCONIOTICS WOULD BE GIVEN COMPENSATION ON A ONE-OFF BASIS OR BY TWO PAYMENTS, SHE ADDED.

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MRS FOK NOTED THAT THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION PLAYED A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE NEW COMPENSATION SCHEME.

FUND

BOARD

SUCH

SHE SAID IT WAS MEANINGFUL FOR THE FUND BOARD TO ORGANISE PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES TO ENABLE THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PREVENTION OF THE DISEASE.

/HELD AT