X1000306-1983-84_Part01 — Page 7

Dermatology Service

The total mumber of attendances in the skin clinics was 58 532, including 19 017 new cases, The mix commonest skin diseasË N encountered were eczema, tinea, acables, acne, verruos and

neurodermatitis.

of skin cancer.

de in previous years, there we a very low incidence

Narcotics and fruge Administration

The department runs methadone maintenance as well as detoxification schemes for drug addicts. There are at present

24 methadone clinice over Hong Kong operating daily including Sundaye and Public Bolidays. In August 1980, a central laboratory for urine testing was opened and operated by the Government Chemist, providing a fast and efficient amlytical support to the methadona clinica. The average daily attendances of the service rango E from 5 800 to 6 500 during 1983.

Occupational Health and Hygiene Services

The Occupational Health Division of the labour Department provides an advisory service to the government and the public on matters concerning the health of workers and the hygiene of the workplace and complements the Factory Inspectorate Division in supervising health standards and practices in industry. It worke to maintain and improve the physical and mental well-being of workers and protect them against any health hazard arising from their employment. During the year, the division participated in a mmber of senirer O and exhibitione for the promotion of occupational health and also published a series of booklete and codes of practice on the prevention of occupational hazards.

A prime responsibility of the division is to investigate notified occupational diseases and potential health hazards reported by the factory inspectorate and to determine preventive action. Surveys were conducted in various industries and an epidemiological study on the health and hygiene oonditione in mines, quarries and construction sites is also in progress.

The division carries out medical examinations for personne 1 exposed to ionizing radiation, government divere and compressed air workers. It also deals with cases of silicosis under the Preumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance. The division's murses handled medical clearance for employees' compensation cases while ite occupational health officers are appointed as members of assessment boarda under the Employees' Compensation Ürdinance.

The Occupational Health Division's laboratory carries out analytical tests on biological samples from workers and other environmental samples taken during site visite. It also assists in conducting analyses for the air pollution monitoring programme in Hong Kong.

Health Education

The Central Health Education Unit was engaged in 3 major territory-wide health education campaigns and 2 distriot campaigns during the year 1983/84. These were carried out under the guidance of the Health Education Co-ordinating Committee.

The major activity of the year was the Prevention of Communicable Diseases Campaign. The objective was to promote prevention of communicable diseases through attention to personal, food and environmental hygiene, and in children, by completion of immunization schedules, Activities organised for the campaign included an exhibition at City Hall, 5 district exhibitions in Kowloon and New Territories regions, a poster and slogan design competition, radio and TV programmes, distribution of pamphlete and posting of posters.

The Anti-smoking Publicity Campaign 1983/84 was co-ordinated by the Health and Welfare Branch, and the Central Health Education Unit was involved during the 4 phases of the campaign to various extent. Some of these activities were anti-ancking exhibitions at 4 different sites, anti-moking workshop for students, mana rally at Victoria Park, assistance in district board activities.

In view of the community need for mental health education, a seminar for teachers was co-organised with the Education Department in December 1983 as an activity of the Committee on Public Education on Rehabilitation (COMPERE), Mental health exhibition and workshop vere organised during the year attracting students, teachers, social workera and also mental patients.

In the year, the Young Bealth Leader Training Project was launched by the Shatin Health Education Centre. Students from secondary acboole in Shatin were selected and trained in knowledge and practice concerning healthy lifestyles and disease prevention so that they could help to propagate health messages among fellow schoolmates and frienda na peer counsellore, se well as influence parents and relatives.

Apart from a muber of on-going activities which were carried out regularly in the form of Radio and TV Programe, Health Education Tan Broadcasting and, Resource Supply and Counselling Service, two new activities were introduced during the year. They were t

(a) Audio-visual Centree

opened in January 1983. The

2 contres were open to the general public who could attend the exhibition, view shove, or requeat special topics of interest.

(b) OFD Slide Programme atarted in April 1983 in the

Ngau Tau Kok OFD. This service was soon extended to 2 other clinica in Hong Kong and N.T. Region. Waiting patients at these olinios could view one of 15 topios made available to the OPDA. Evaluation indicated the programme vaa well received.

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