X1000306-1982-83_Part01 — Page 6

Arran Street Multi-disciplinary Child Assessment Centre

The centre serves children from birth to 12 years old. It provides comprehensive physical, psychological and social assessment as well as therapy, parental counselling and the appropriate placement child of children in one of the various institutions and centres run by both Government and voluntary agencies. The centre also works closely with the special child care centre of the Social Welfare Department and the Special Education Service Centres of the Education Department.

Towards the end of the year, a Toy Library was set up as a form of treatment programme. The aim is to enhance the development of children through toys and play. Emphasis is placed on parent-involvement, and includes guidance on the selection of toys. An open day was held in October 1982 to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the opening of the clinic.

In 1982, 1,005 cases were assessed and 4,287 case sessions were held. An expansion programme to set up seven more such child assessment centres on a regional basis is in progress.

Social Hygiene and Special Skin Service

Venereal Disease Service

The incidence of venereal disease recorded in 1982 was 9,806 compared with 7,601 in 1981. About 4.22% of these cases occurred in the teenage (under 15) group- The common sexually transmitted diseases were gonorrhea (46%), syphilis (8%) and non-gonococcal urethritis (13%). The incidence of other sexually transmitted diseases, e.g. chancroid, genital herpes and lympho-granuloma venereua remained low,

Ante-natal blood tests carried out routinely in all Governmental and non-governmental antenatal centres indicated an initial positive rate of 0.32% compared with 0.34% in the previous year. Of the 90 positive cases referred to the social hygiene clinics only $1 cases (57%) were found to be suffering from syphilis.

The health staff were involved in epidemiological activities such as contact tracing and follow-up of defaulters and those at risk of frequent exposure. Health education in social hygiene was also emphasised through frequent health talks and the issuing of pamphlets and posters to the public.

Leprosy Service

There has been a gradual fall in the incidence of leprosy during the past 2 decades and this trend continued in 1982. The number of new cases treated in 1982 was 57 representing an incidence rate of 1.1 per 100,000 population. The ratio of male to female cases was 6 to 1 and about 54% of the cases were tuberculoid cases.

All leprosy cases needing in-patient treatment are admitted to Lai Chi Kok Hospital and in 1982 there were 14 new admissions,

Dermatology Service

Total attendances at skin clinics numbered 57,011 including 18,571 new cases. The six most common skin diseases encountered were eczema, tinea, scabies, acne, verruca and neurodermatitis. As in previous years, there was a very low incidence of skin cancer.

Narcotics and Drugs Administration

The department runs a methadone maintenance and detoxification scheme for drug addicts. There are at present 24 methadone clinics located throughout Hong Kong which operate on a daily basis, including Sundays and Public Holidays. A central laboratory for urine testing, operated by the Government Chemist and providing a fast and efficient analytical support to the methadone clinics was opened in August 1980. The average daily attendance ranges from 6,000 to 8,300.

Occupational Health and Hygiene

The Occupational Health Division, formerly known as the Industrial Health Division of the Labour Department, provides an advisory service to Government and industry on matters concerning the health of workers and the hygiene of the workplace. and a supervisory function in occupational health standards and practice. The aim of occupational health is to maintain and improve the physical and mental well-being of workers, protect them against any hazard arising from their employment and help then in adjusting to their tasks.

A prime responsibility of the division is to investigate notified occupational diseases and potential hazards reported by the factory inspectorate and to determine preventive action. Surveys and monitoring of processes involving possible physical, chemical or biological hazards are also undertaken. The medical examination of Government divers, compressed air workers and personnel exposed to ionizing radiation, is another activity aimed at ensuring that workers are physically fit for their task and that the work does not adversely affect their health.

Occupational health officers and health nurses of the division are also involved in the assessment and rehabilitation of injured workers and the staffing of medical boards required to implement the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and to deal with cases of silicosis under the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance.

The laboratory of the Occupational Health Division carries out analytical tests on biological samples from workers' urine and blood, and miscellaneous samples from the working environment, including silica concentrations. It also assists in conducting analyses required for the general air pollution monitoring programme in Hong Kong.

In 1982, 82 cases of decompression sickness, 9 cases of contact dermatitis and I case of lead poisoning were notified. Among the non- notifiable occupational diseases, 510 cases of silicosis were recorded.

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