X1000306-1968-69_Part01 — Page 13

FLOURE ?

TUBERCULOSIS NOTIFICATIONS DY AGE & SEX 1936 – 1998 & 1966 – 1982

MERENŢIRE NON HARE SE BE ABLE

1

44. The high incidence of primary and secondary drug resistance in Hong Kong has been demonstrated by research undertaken in conjunc- tion with the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom. The results of these investigations indicate that the level of drug resistance in Hong Kong is possibly the highest in the world, 40% of the organizms investigated showing resistance to one or more of the first-line drugs commonly used in ambulatory chemotherapy.

The B.C.G. Campaign

45. In Hong Kong with its density of population and comparatively high prevalence of tuberculosis B.C.G. has a vital role to play in the prevention of the disease. The B.C.G. Campaign is directed towards two main age groups, the new-borns and the school entrants aged about 6-7 years. During the year 94% of new-borns were given B.C.G.. Bearing it in mind that the remaining 6% usually have some contra-indication to B.C.G., for example pre-maturity, this represents an almost 100% coverage of eligible babies, perhaps the highest coverage in the world. The decline in infant mortality from tuberculosis which has resulted is shown in Figure 8.

FOURE &

TUBERCULOsts MORTALITY & B.C.G. VACCINATION OF NEW-BORNS 1954 - 1958 (MORTALITY RATES EXPRESSED AS PERCENTAGE OF 1954 RATES)

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home visiting are attached to the Chest Service. These Health Auxiliaries are supervised by one Health Sister and six Health Visitors. Newly diagnosed cases of tuberculosis have all aspects of the disease thoroughly explained to them by Health Visitors and receive explanatory leaflets. Regular attendance for out-patient chemotherapy is regarded as being of paramount importance and considerable emphasis is placed on the follow-up of defaulters and on ensuring that contacts are examined. The clinics also provide medical social work, contact tracing and supervisory services, and undertake surveys of selected groups such as Government employees and prisoners, in co-operation with the Radio- logical Service. In other cases a regular financial grant can be made where the family depend on the patient's earnings and no other way can be found to maintain the dependants during his hospitalization. 43. During the year there were 1,339,301 attendances at Government Chest Clinics. This figures has remained very stable over the past 6 years although it represents a drop from the high figure recorded in 1961, namely, 2,204,058. At the end of 1968, there were 3,435 cases on daily Streptomycin/PAS/INAH, 10,707 cases on PAS/INAH tablets and 1,219 on second-line drugs.

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EPERCENTAGE E

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FR

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ONCE VLOCINATION OF ALL NEWF

BORKS

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TEAR

INSAMYLIONS

ALL AGES

TEI MORDILITY UNFANN

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