154
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
is also available through the School Health Services, the Maternal and Child Health Service, the Tuberculosis Clinics and through the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association.
The principal diagnostic agency in the Colony is the Government Tuberculosis Service which now operates three large full-time clinics with branch clinics in every large population centre. Treatment throughout the Colony is based mainly on ambulatory chemotherapy which in suitable cases gives surprisingly good results, but which must be continued for a minimum of one year, and often twice as long. In this sphere the government clinics are operating to maximum capacity, with a total of more than 12,000 cases under treat- ment during the year and a total attendance of half a million. Every notified case is visited in the home by Tuberculosis Visitors and contact examination offered. The home visitor is the principal channel of health education in tuberculosis. The total number of hospital beds available for the treat- ment of tuberculosis is in the region of 1,500, 40% being operated directly or indirectly by Government, 33% sub- sidized by Government, and the remainder being operated privately and principally on payment. The Hong Kong Anti- Tuberculosis Association completed the 540-bed Grantham Hospital which was formally opened by the Governor on 6th June, 1957. A proportion of general ward beds in this private hospital was later made available for patients ad- mitted through the Government Tuberculosis Service, the charges being met from public funds. Full facilities for surgical treatment are available.
No general population tuberculosis surveys have been carried out, activities in this direction being devoted mainly to industrial undertakings and school teachers.
Limited funds are available through the Tuberculosis Service for the assistance of patients undergoing treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. Assistance, mainly in kind, is also available to tuberculosis sufferers through the Social Welfare Office.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.