X1000307-1947_Part01 — Page 11

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101. Evidences, in general, of undernourishment and maloutrition were relatively slight and sample surveys made on those attending the government free food kitchens showed no evidence of gross malnutrition. Oue death was diagnosed in the public mortuaries us being due to starvation. 312 deaths due to heri beri were reported from all sources. This compares with 1,318 in 1946 and 7,229 in 1940, the last year before hostilities for which figures are available.

102. There are two factors which have contributed to this improved nutritional standard, one is the considerable increase in wages for the labouring and artisan classes and the second is the shortage of rice which has resulted in a greater variety in the diet.

103. Dr. D. A. Smith who, it was hoped, would return to the Calany altor bis recuperation leave as nutrition officer has unfortunately had to be invalided from the service. It is hoped that he will be replaced before long,

104. It was anticipated that samples of food yeast would be made available for experimental purposes but they had not materialized by the end of the year.” It is doubtful whether food yeast would be acceptable to the Chinese in view of the relative cheapness and availability of soya beans and the conservatism shown in their habits of feeding.

(vii) Health Propaganda.

106. This very important branch of the health services is being developed,

106. With a view to gaining the co-operation and interest of the public in health improvements in the Colony, a Health Week was successfully organized in April, Six subjects for health propaganda were selected: rats, flies, cholers, spitting and tuberculosis, venereal disease, and the practice of urinating and defaccating in the street. Posters were prepared and posted up in prominent places, a school competition was organized, four public address aveteus were put into action, the local wireless stations ZEK and ZBW co-operated by putting over prepared talks in both English and Chinese, and there were daily articles in the press. The whole scheme was put into action from April 14th to 19th and it was generally agreed that the effect on the public was good enough to warrant similar schemes in the future.

107. More attention has been paid to health propaganda generally. In addition to Health Week, a public address system used in each district for a few days at the beginning of the cholera season was found to be extremely valuable in reaching the public.

108. In the latter part of the year a film, dealing with apitting and tuberculosis was written, produced and photographed by members of the department. Another film on Child Health is under consideration.

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109. These films will be shown by means of a propaganda van which will combine a mubile cinema and loud speaker outfit with facilities for demonstrating matters connected with public health generally.

110. An intense anti-spitting campaign was one outcome of the Health Week. Notices were shown on cinema screena throughout the Colony and an anti-spitting patral caught 246 people apitting indiscriminately in the streets. The fines for this offence ranged from $10 to $25.

111. The result has been remarkable and spitting in the streets is now becoming a rarety.

V.—MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.

(a) Centrer.

112. There are three Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics, the Tsim Tea Tami Centre in Kowloon and the Harcourt and Western Centres on the Island.

113. The activities of these centres include Ante-natal, neo-natal and gynaecological clinics and the care of babies up to 2 years of age. Test feeding of infants with supplementary fooding where necessary is done and an extra meal of congee with meat and vegetables is given to mothers who are in need of it. Home visiting by the health nurses is carried out where further observation is indicated.

114. Two thoussa four hundred and twelve expectant mothers were examined at these clinics and 5,703 women attended the gynaecological clinics. The total number of babies that attended the infaut welfare section was 120,470, of these, 33,021 were classified as healthy.

115. Although the child welfare centres are primarily intended for instruction and advice, large numbers of sick babica are brought to these centres for treatment. Serious cased are referred to the hospitals but minor illnesses are treated.

116. Respiratory diseases were by a long way the most frequent conditions seen with bronchitis (3,472 cases) and coryza (657 cases) beading the list. The next most important group was the gastro-intestinal disorders.

117. Other common conditions were thrash, of which 1,219 cases were treated and skin diseases with exxena (900 comen) the commoneat, Malnutrition and avitaminosis accounted for 1,300

cases.

(b) Maternity hospitals and homer,

118. The Tsan Yuk Hospital is the largest maternity hospital in the Colony and contains 62 beds. The staff wern working at bigh pressure throughout the year and maintained a very high standard of work.