ENG-1964 — Page 124

HEALTH

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prevalence is in middle and later life and that most of the more intractable clinical problems occur above the age of 45.

The mortality rate has fallen from 208 per 100,000 in 1951 to 39.03 in 1964, and the change in age distribution has continued. In 1951 more than one-third of the deaths occurred below the age of five. Today the proportion has fallen to 4.09 per cent, while above the age of 45 the proportion has risen from one-fifth to more than half, with a male preponderance of over two to one.

In the field of prevention, improved economic conditions are having some effect but, while health education in the home, contact examinations, and X-ray surveys are proceeding, the principal specific measure aimed at tuberculosis prevention is the BCG vaccination campaign with emphasis on the vaccination of newborn babies.

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During the year, 86.4 per cent of babies born in the Colony received BCG vaccination within 48 hours of birth. The vaccine is issued free to all doctors, midwives 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 twelve months if there is a tuberculin-sen- sitivity reaction not due to BCG vaccination. The School Health Service offers tuberculin testing and BCG vaccination where in- dicated to all school children. Toddlers attending the maternal and child health centres are also tuberculin tested and vaccinated when

necessary.

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The tuberculosis control programme is a combined effort and the principal bodies participating are the Government Tuberculosis Service, which maintains Colony-wide facilities for diagnosis and ambulatory chemotherapy, the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association and the Junk Bay Medical Relief Council. Certain other organizations, both charitable and private, also provide treatment facilities.

There are 1,728 beds available in the Colony specifically for the treatment of tuberculosis, of which 1,686 are in government-assisted hospitals managed by the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association, the Junk Bay Medical Relief Council and the Tung Wah Hospitals Medical Committee; the remaining 42 beds are in the Government St John's Hospital on Cheung Chau Island. A total of 1,705 patients