PUBLIC HEALTH
151
Maternal and Child Health. The Government midwifery serv ices, which offer facilities free of charge for maternity home and domiciliary deliveries, now operate from 23 centres, four in Hong Kong, six in Kowloon and thirteen in the New Territories. Owing to the very crowded home conditions, relatively few deliveries take place in private houses. During the year 53 midwives at the 23 centres undertook a total of 13,427 deliveries of which only 3,106 did not take place in hospitals or maternity homes.
122 private maternity homes and 5 nursing homes also under- take midwifery. Of these 37 maternity homes are in Hong Kong, 75 maternity homes and 4 nursing homes in Kowloon and 10 maternity homes and 1 nursing home in the New Territories. These homes, the majority of which have two to four beds, are visited regularly by the Supervisor of Midwives and her staff to ensure that the conditions of registration are being complied with and that the standards of midwifery and record keeping are ade- quate. A total of 34,496 babies were delivered in these maternity homes and there were 3,109 domiciliary deliveries.
The maternal and child health staff hold ante-natal sessions at 28 centres and post-natal sessions at 16 centres. There were 61,891 attendances at ante-natal sessions and 4,870 post-natal attendances. Infant welfare and toddlers clinics for children up to 2 years of age and from 2 to 5 years respectively are held at 24 centres, seven of which are full-time; in the other 17 centres infant welfare clinics are held once, twice or three times each week in Govern- ment clinics and dispensaries, the frequency depending on the population to be served. There was a total of 327,898 attendances, 35,538 of them at toddlers clinics.
Health Education forms a most important part of the work and takes the form of health talks illustrated by diagrams and flannel- graphs, film strips, slides, practical demonstration, individual ad- vice to mothers and the distribution of booklets and pamphlets. The response is very encouraging and talks and demonstrations are followed with the closest interest. A not inconsiderable number of fathers also attend talks and film strips, particularly at the toddlers clinics.
Routine immunization against smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus are given. Depending on circumstances, triple vaccine, combined vaccine or A.P.T. may be given. B.C.G. is given to
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.