X1000307-1948-49_Part01 — Page 17

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79. Owing to an outbreak of stuallpox in Cuuton inspection of passengers arriving by train was carried out from 5th January, 1948 to 19th March, 1948. 108,752 passengers were examined and 86,505 were vaccinated at the station, nine cases of leprosy were discovered in the course of inspection.

WO. 50,926 emigrants and 16,512 crew from 18 emigrant ships were examined. There were 42 rejects.

81. 2.468 Bills of Health were issued. 2,486 to Merchant ships, 30 to H.M. ships and 2 to U.S. warships. The anticipated reduction in the demand for bills of health did not take place, there being 221 more issued this year than last year.

82. 63 ships from plague infected ports were examined, cargoes being inspected and the degree of rat infestation being investigated and dealt with where necessÁTY,

83. Three vaccination and inoculation centres at the Fire Brigade Building, Harbour Office, and the Tsim Sha Tsui Health Centre were maintained during the year,

84. 3,064 river vessels were inspected and 1,248 ferry launches. 337 water basta were examined and 356 samples of water taken. All wharves along the Hong Kong water front are inspected daily.

85. 2,577 aircraft from infected ports were inspected, with 37,662 passengers and 9,927 crew. Of these 2,149 aircraft were from plague inferted ports and carried 37,531 passengers and 9,898 crew. The hand baggage of all pussengers was treated with A.L.69. 35 radio pratiques were issued by the Port Health Officer. 124 ships were fumigated with a total tonnage of 204,061 and 1,720 rats were recovered. Sulphur fumigation was used in the early part of the year but after 10th July, 1948 evanide fumigation" was also used.

86. On 1st September, 1948 the International type of certi- ficate for vaccination and inoculation was adopted, previously a modification of this had been used.

* After 1st June, 1948 arrangements were made for the Port Health Officer to authenticate signatures of private practi- tioners in Hong Kong. A total of 2,830 certificates were authenticated. On 17th February, 1948 Dr. P. M. Kaul, Director of Ute Singapore Office of the World Health Organisation and Dr. L. Nicholls, former acting Director of the same office visited Hong Kong and were shown the work of the Port Health Office.

(v) School Hygiene.

88. The staff of the School Hygiene Branch cousists of one medical officer in charge, four assistant medical officers, one nursing sister, four nuses, two health inspectors and clerical staff. In addition to this full time staff there is a part time staff consisting of two Ophthalmic surgeons and an Ear Nose and Throat surgeon.

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89. The main duties of this staff are to advise the Education Department in matters relating to the health of school children and the health requirements in schools and to undertake the medical inspection of individual pupils who come under the Schools Medical Service Scheme.

90. Of a total in December, 1948 of 797 schools in the Colony with 117,435 pupils the following categories of schools came under the Schools Medical Service.

(a) 5 Government schools with a total of 787 pupils.

mostly Europeaus.

(b) 21 firaut in Aid schools numbering 6,096 pupils and

mostly Chinese.

(0) 52 Subsidized schools maubering 9,224 pupils mostly

Chinese.

(d) 2 Private vernacular schools with 218 pupils.

making a total of 80 schools and 16,325 pupils.

91. The number of medical inspections undertaken in these schools with the results are shown in Annexure H.

92. Owing to the shortage of accommodation a two Bersion system is adopted in many school premises.

With a few exceptions, Government and Grant in Aid Schools are conducted in buildings specially planned for school purposes and the premises are generally satisfactory. The vaat majority of subsidized and private schools, however, are conducted in tenement Bats or in buildings that were never intended to be used as schools. While regulations to safe-guard hygiene have heen laid down in the Education Ordinance and which must be complied with before registration is granted, this type of school suffers from lack of proper facilities for physical exercise and is generally situated in a thickly congested urban area.

94. All proposed school buildings and all existing orbool premises in the urban area

During were inspected regularly, the year 2,092 sebool inspections were carried out as followe :-

New applications for day schools

JA

night schools

vr 120

Applications for extension

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Proposed Government school Itoutine inspection Uuregistered schools

1,826 2

95. Of the premises inspected five were refused permits as being unsuitable. Defects found in existing schools are shown in Annexure H.

96. Prophylactic immunisations against diphtherin and var rination against smallpox was carried on throughout the year in all schools in the Colony, 9925 pupils received the first and second doses of alumn-precipitated toxoid and a further 3012 received the first dose only. 90,932 stuff and pupils were inoculated against cholera and 39,842 were vaccinaled against smallpox,