per cent of the births were attended by the government district midwives, and midwives in private practice attended another 15.5 per cent, compared with 18 per cent and 19 per cent respectively in 1970. The remainder of the births took place in government, government- subsidized and private hospitals.
66. During the year, there was no change in the number of govern- ment district maternity homes. On the other hand, one new private maternity home was registered, while eight old homes were voluntarily suspended, with a reduction of 53 beds. During the past five years, there has been a steady reduction in the still-birth rates in both govern- ment and private materntiy homes.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES (Tables 16-37)
67. Public appreciation of the value of these services in the maintenance of health among infants, and expectant or nursing mothers was again reflected by the fact that 89.6 per cent of the children born had been brought to a centre for attention on at least one occasion. The corresponding figure for 1970 was 85.4 per cent. Approximately 1 per cent of the new attendants at the various centres was found to have abnormalities. Of these, the majority had either congenital defects or displayed effects of prematurity. A further encouraging trend was the increasing appreciation by expectant mothers of the need for regular ante-natal care, this reflected by the average attendances per person at ante-natal sessions and by the low maternal mortality rate.
68. In July 1971, developmental screening for sight, hearing and speech was started at all full-time maternal and child health centres. Children attending these centres were seen at six weeks, 8-10 months. 18-20 months, 24 years. 31 years and 4 years respectively. Children found having, or suspected to have, defects were referred to specialist clinics. Those with permanent defects were referred to the special education section of the Education Department. A special register is kept at each centre for children with defects, and follow-up visits were made by health visitors once every three months.
69. In November 1971. the North Kwai Chung Maternal and Child Health Centre was opened. It is a full-time centre. This brings the total number of full-time maternal and child health centres throughout Hong Kong to 19,
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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
70. The Medical and Health Department provides an advisory service to the Education Department on matters relating to environ- mental health and hygiene in schools, and this was continued in 1971. Inspections of schools were carried out by school health inspectors with special regard to lighting, ventilation and sanitary arrangements. Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and smallpox was carried out in schools during the year by staff under the direction of area health officers. The government chest service maintained responsibility for tuberculin testing and B.C.G. vaccination in schools.
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD
(Table 38)
71. The School Medical Service is administered by the School Medical Service Board, an independent statutory body incorporated by ordinance and operated by private medical practitioners. Remuneration of the doctors is on a per capita basis, half the annual fee being paid by the participating pupil, and half contributed by the Govern- ment, which also meets the Board's administrative expenses.
72. On 31st March, 1972, the number of pupils participating was 37,181 from 661 schools, compared with 43,663 pupils from 704 schools on the same date in the previous year. Doctors participating in the scheme numbered 174 compared with 183 in the previous year.
DENTAL SERVICE (Table 39)
73. The Dental Service provides dental care for all monthly-paid government officers and their dependants, and government pensioners, and offers a limited specialized treatment for in-patients of government hospitals, prisoners, inmates of training centres, and emergency treat- meat for members of the general public.
74. Fluoridation of the Colony's urban water supplies began in 1961. The rate of enrichment was formerly at two levels, being 0.7 parts of fluoride per million in summer, and 0.9 parts per million during winter. In May 1967, the concentration was increased to a constant level of 1 part per million throughout the year. This level was maintained in 1971. It represented the result of a decision arrived at after consideration of more recent work on the study of optimum
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