ENG-1955 — Page 138

PUBLIC HEALTH

ΙΟΙ

vaccination is offered in the principal maternity hospitals, and in December arrangements were made for the distribution of free supplies of the vaccine to general practitioners, for the vaccination of new-born children. In 1956 it is hoped to extend this supply to midwives in private practice. All contacts of notified cases of tuberculosis are offered medical examination with minimum inconvenience. All notified cases are visited in their homes and instructed in methods to prevent the spread of infection.

X-ray surveys are carried out, but are restricted to annual surveys of civil servants, and employees of certain firms, who undertake to be responsible for the medical care of any employee discovered to be suffering from tuberculosis. As many cases are found to be in impoverished circumstances, a welfare scheme is in operation. The funds available amount to $100,000, and for the first time this provision was found to be inadequate. Assistance is given through the Medico-Social Service in the form of family allowances, rehabilitation grants, and extra nourishment, usually in the form of milk powder.

Work is now proceeding on the erection of a new institution under the auspices of the Anti-Tuberculosis As- sociation, which will provide an additional 550 beds.

Leprosy

Determined efforts are now being made to decrease the age-long dread of this disease. The successful curative work of the Mission to Lepers' centre (which can accommodate 500 patients) on Hayling Island, in the New Territories, is well publicized, and is arousing much public interest and support. Only a fraction of the total number of victims of this disease can hope to be accommodated on the island, although a rapid building expansion, with Government financial assistance, is in progress. Admissions to the leprosarium are restricted to the most acutely infectious cases, or to those requiring hospital treatment for other well-defined reasons. The majority of lepers are now treated at Government clinics as out-patients. This has the advantage of not up- rooting the sufferer from his environment and employment, and the steadily increasing attendances reflect the growing confidence and appreciation of those afflicted by this disease. The number of clinics held weekly for lepers was increased from 4 to 7. An interesting feature is that a surprisingly large number of people report to these clinics who are not in fact

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