ENG-1961 — Page 173

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HEALTH

Junk Bay in the New Territories are most largely concerned. A number of other voluntary organizations and private hospitals also offer facilities for treatment.

Tuberculosis is still the major public health problem facing Hong Kong, and it is estimated that two per cent of the adult population suffers from the disease in an active form.

Because of the over-crowded living conditions, this produced some 10 years ago a very high prevalence and mortality in young children. With the resources available at that time it was impossible to provide, within the foreseeable future, sufficient hospital beds to isolate infectious cases. The policy adopted by Government was therefore to protect as far as possible the youngest age group by BCG vaccination, to establish out-patient clinics for the ambulatory chemotherapy of adults and to use the relatively few hospital beds available for the treatment of cases thought to be curable by medical or surgical treatment. The Government tuberculosis service has concentrated on the BCG vaccination of new-born babies and on the provision of out-patient treatment. The Hong Kong Anti- Tuberculosis Association has developed hospital facilities at the Ruttōnjee Sanatorium and the Grantham Hospital. The Associa- tion also maintains the Freni Memorial Convalescent Home, a BCG vaccination centre and a Tuberculosis Insurance Scheme.

During 1961 79.3 per cent of babies born in the Colony received BCG vaccination within 48 hours of birth. The vaccine is issued free to all midwives, doctors and hospitals. Through the Government tuberculosis service all children under the age of three who are contacts of known adult cases are given prophylactic INAH for a period of 12 months if there is a tuberculin sensitivity reaction not known to have been due to BCG vaccination. Further, through the School Health Service, tuberculin testing and BCG vaccination when necessary is offered to all school children, and a house-to-house campaign has been conducted in an effort to reach children of school age but not attending school. Toddlers attending the MCH Centres are also tuberculin tested and vaccinated when necessary.

At the Government Chest Clinics no charge is made for attendance and, once a diagnosis of active tuberculosis has been made, a system of ambulatory chemotherapy is instituted. This is continued for a period of two years, using a combination of the