ENG-1966 — Page 150

HEALTH

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in November. By the end of the year a total of 1,467,271 inocula- tions had been given.

Tuberculosis remains Hong Kong's principal community health problem. Many thousands of unselected examinations carried out each year show that approximately 1 per cent to 2 per cent of the adult population is in need of treatment for the disease, with a continuing smaller percentage of active tuberculosis occurring below the age of 15. There is ample evidence that tuberculosis in infancy and early childhood is now relatively rare by the standards prevailing 14 years ago, that the peak prevalence continues to shift to middle and later life and that the more intractable clinical problems occur mainly above the age of 45. The mortality rate for tuberculosis continued to decline, falling from 208 per 100,000 in 1951 to 40.8 in 1966.

The posting of health visitors to the Government Chest Service to guide and direct tuberculosis workers has increased the emphasis placed on the important field of prevention, especially health education in the home, contact examination, home visiting, the tracing of defaulters from treatment and the holding of X-ray surveys. The prime specific measure aimed at prevention of tuber- culosis in children is the BCG vaccination campaign, with emphasis on the vaccination of the newborn. During the year 90.2 per cent of babies born in the Colony received BCG vaccination within 48 hours of birth. The vaccine is issued free to all doctors, mid- wives, and hospitals. Tuberculin testing and BCG vaccination, where indicated, are offered to all school children, and children aged from two to five attending maternal and child health centres are also tuberculin tested and vaccinated when necessary. Govern- ment officers are X-rayed annually, and free X-ray surveys are carried out on request at schools and in industrial or commercial concerns. Employers wishing to avail themselves of these facilities are required to agree to certain conditions regarding sick leave and re-employment of proved cases. The Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association is also active in prevention and maintains BCG and follow-up clinics and a health education section at its headquarters.

All diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis is free and medical social workers connected with this work maintain social histories, operate a tuberculosis assistance fund for those in need of financial

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