X1000306-1967-68_Part01 — Page 6

1

I

1. INTRODUCTION

THE general health of the population continued to be good. Due to great advances in disease control, the pattern of infectious diseases is changing rapidly. No case of cholera was reported during the year and apart from one isolated case in 1966, there has been no visitation of this disease for over 34 years. Diphtheria and poliomyelitis are under control and only 5 cases of the latter disease were reported during 1967.

2. As the incidences of other infectious diseases declined, measles in recent years has emerged as a major cause of death in young children. due primarily to complications associated with the disease. An anti- measles vaccination campaign was launched in December 1967 and the campaign was still in progress at the end of the year under review.

3. While tuberculosis remains the major community health problem, the Colony is facing increasing problems due to diseases of later life. Deaths from cancer, diseases of the heart and cerebro-vascular lesions were the leading causes of death followed by pneumonia and tuberculosis.

4. The Development Programme of the Medical and Health De- partment has been making steady progress. Altogether, there were 25 Building Projects being planned or built for the improvement and expansion of the medical facilities in the urban and rural areas. The first of the five phases of the alteration programme of Queen Mary Hospital to provide more acute beds commenced in July 1967. Up-to- date facilities for the professorial staff of the University in the hospital were completed and commissioned. Other works in progress were the new Lai Chi Kok Hospital, the Chai Wan Urban Clinic and Maternity Home, the Tang Shiu Kin Hospital and the Mental Defective Hospital at Siu Lam. The Castle Peak Clinic was opened in January 1968.

5. There has been increasing use of the Department's services by members of the public and attendances at general out-patients and specialist out-patients departments continued to increase. The number of patients admitted and treated in Government hospitals have also shown an increase compared with the previous years.

L

Page