ENG-1968 — Page 159

HEALTH

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from declared infected areas. A regular exchange of epidemiological intelligence is maintained with the International Quarantine Service of the World Health Organization in Geneva, the Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization in Manila and several neighbouring health administrations.

The Port Health Service is also responsible for the sanitary control of the port and airport areas and these areas were kept free from Aedes aegypti (yellow fever vector) throughout the year under review. There is regular supervision of the purity of water supplied by dock hydrants and water boats, and of the airport catering service. Ships arriving with expired deratting or deratting exemption certificates are inspected and if necessary, new certificates are issued after the required measures have been taken. The dock area and airport are included in the rodent control scheme for the Colony and returns of rats destroyed, and epidemiological examination for plague, are submitted monthly to the World Health Organization's International Quarantine Service.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

There is increasing public understanding of the value of Hong Kong's maternal and child health facilities. Most babies are born either in hospital maternity wards or in maternity homes and confinements at home attended by government or private midwives now represent only about 1 per cent of total deliveries. The Govern- ment Midwifery Service has 30 district centres, one of which provides a domiciliary service, while maternity beds available for deliveries in government clinics and health centres total 488. There are 118 registered midwives practising privately in 77 maternity and nursing homes, which are inspected regularly by the Supervisor of Midwives and her staff to ensure that conditions of registration are observed and that a high standard is maintained by registered midwives not working under the direct supervision of a doctor.

The government Maternal and Child Health Service offers free maternal and child care at 29 centres, 17 of which are full-time. Clinics are held for infants and for children between two and five years old, and ante-natal and post-natal sessions are also conducted. Whenever necessary, babies attending the clinics are visited at home, and health visitors also go to the homes of newborns whose names