ENG-1973 — Page 125

HEALTH

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which previously required hospitalisation-on a completely outpatient basis. Much effort is now being directed towards shortening treatment. Present treatment will certainly cure the great majority of patients suffering from tuberculosis. However, drugs have to be taken for 18 or even 24 months and this is asking much of the patient. It may be possible that this can be cut by half in the not too distant future.

The results of these many investigations are of international interest and it is hoped that they will, within the next few years, revolutionise the approach to the treatment of tuberculosis.

Hong Kong now has 1,634 beds available specifically for the treatment of tuber- culosis. The government provides 108 beds in Kowloon Hospital, but the majority are in government-assisted hospitals, notably those managed by the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Association. This association offers a total of 805 beds distributed between Grantham Hospital, Ruttonjee Sanatorium and Freni Memorial Home. In addition, the Junk Bay Medical Relief Council has 302 beds at its Haven of Hope Sanatorium. The Tung Wah Group plays an important role in the treatment of tuberculosis and the chest unit at Wong Tai Sin Infirmary has 185 beds in spacious accommodation.

Venereal disease is diagnosed and treated free at social hygiene clinics. The recorded incidence of early infectious syphilis continued to remain low in 1973, thus differing from experience in other parts of the world. Latent and late syphilis and gonorrboea have stayed comparatively unchanged and the incidence of chancroid and lymphogranuloma remained low. The maintenance of this satisfactory position is due, at least in part, to energetic control by contact tracing, follow-up of defaulters and routine ante-natal blood tests.

Leprosy remains a comparatively minor public health problem. Each week 20 outpatient sessions are held solely for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, while other sessions are held at social hygiene centres in conjunction with dermatology and venereal disease clinics. The Leprosy Mission-Hong Kong Auxiliary, with the aid of a government subvention, maintains the Hay Ling Chau Leprosarium for the treatment of infectious cases and a small number of patients requiring reconstructive operations are also accepted. Due to the decreasing incidence of the disease, the number of new cases admitted to the leprosarium has shown a notable reduction in recent years. In June 1971 it was decided to phase out and eventually close the lep- rosarium. Further leprosy cases requiring hospital treatment will be accommodated in the special infectious disease unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital, scheduled for completion in 1974.

Malaria can now be considered to have been controlled and transmission of the disease has ceased in Hong Kong. During the year 16 cases were reported but on investigation all were found to have been imported. No fresh cases were notified. Malaria prevention in the urban areas is based chiefly on anti-larval measures con- sisting of draining and clearing streams, ditching and oiling. In the greater part of the New Territories, where the background is essentially rural, screening of buildings and use of mosquito nets constitute the main protection against malaria. All anti- mosquito measures for the prevention of malaria are carried out by the pest control