year, postgraduate courses in Dermatology were given to members of the two Medical Associations and other doctors.
189. A complete survey into the incidence and cultural characteristics of mycological conditions seen in Hong Kong was undertaken and the Service runs a mycological diagnostic service in its laboratory. Surveys and research into the incidence and possible causes of acute and subacute lupus erythematosus are being undertaken.
190. A total of 10,740 new cases were registered at clinics during the year and 303 cases were admitted to hospital. A classification of dermatological cases for the past three years is given at Appendix 8.
PORT HEALTH
191. The Port Health Administration is responsible for all measures designed to prevent the introduction of quarantinable infectious diseases into the Colony; for the sanitary control of the ports of entry by sea. air and rail; for the carrying out of the provisions of the International Sanitary Regulations as embodied in the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance and the Asiatic Emigration Ordinance and for the compilation of epidemiological statistics and reports. There are also statutory responsibilities under the Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Ordinance. A weekly exchange of epidemiological information is main- tained with the World Health Organization Epidemiological Station in Geneva.
192. All persons entering the Colony are subject to a quarantine inspection. Arrivals by sea are inspected at the two quarantine anchorages in Kowloon Bay and off Stonecutters Island respectively; arrivals by air are inspected at Kai Tak Airport and persons crossing the land fron- tier by rail at the Lo Wu Quarantine Post. All immigrants without valid international certificates against smallpox are vaccinated.
193. Other routine work carried out include the deratting, disin- secting and fumigation of ships, sanitary duties in the port and airport, including supervision of water supplies, control measures to keep the port and airport free from Aedes aegypti and inspection of all vessels carrying more than twenty unberthed immigrants. A service rendering medical advice by wireless, on request, to ships at sea is also maintained. In addition to routine work, the Port Health launches, equipped with stretchers, first-aid equipment and radio telephones, provide a sea ant- bulance service in the port area.
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194. Four Port Health inoculation centres are maintained for the convenience of persons requiring International Certificates for travel, two on Hong Kong Island and two in Kowloon, including one at the airport. Free prophylactic vaccinations are also offered at these centres to members of the public.
195. Out-patient clinic facilities are provided in the Airport for Govern- ment servants working at the Airport and for their families. This clinic includes a vaccination centre for members of the public who require International Certificates of Vaccination and it also serves as a first- aid post.
DISTRICT MIDWIFERY SERVICES
196. The difficulties of attending home deliveries under existing housing conditions and the growing appreciation of the advantages of the skilled attention available in institutions have resulted in a con- tinuing decline in domiciliary midwifery. During the year only 2.5% of all registered births took place in the home; the remainder of the deliveries were either in hospitals or in Government or private maternity homes. This is reflected in the further decline in the maternal mortality rate. which has shown a dramatic fall in recent years.
197. It is now Government policy gradually to reduce facilities for domiciliary midwifery and to provide instead beds for normal mid- wifery in all new Health Centres constructed in urban areas where the needs of the district warrant this provision. In the New Territories the policy has been, and still continues to be, to include maternity beds in all new clinics.
198. During the year 52 maternity beds were provided in Kowloon in the maternity wards of the Robert Black Health Centre at San Po Kong and the Li Po Chun Health Centre at Tai Kok Tsui; in addition a mater- nity home of seven beds was opened at Kam Tin in the New Territories. 199. The work of the Government Midwifery Service during 1963 is summarized in Table 24.
TABLE 24
GOVERNMENT MIDWIFERY SERVICE 1963 Maternity beds in hospitals Maternity beds in maternity homes (urban) Maternity beds in maternity homes (rural) Midwives (excluding hospitals)
kw
412
136
154
raw
100
21,162 225
J
Cases auende (excluding hospitals) Average pase-load for each midwife (excluding hospitals)
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