ENG-1977 — Page 132

HEALTH

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paign is carried out every January and March. About 97 per cent of infants receive one dose of polio vaccine soon after birth and 84 per cent receive two doses of trivalent vaccine later. Epidemiological surveillance of the disease is being maintained.

Measles is most prevalent among children under five but, since the introduction of anti-measles vaccine in 1967, the pattern of infection is no longer biennial. A peak incidence was reported in March and gradually decreased to low levels in July. Immunisation campaigns were mounted to reduce the incidence.

Most cases of viral hepatitis, which shows a cyclic peak every third year, occurred among male adolescents and young adults. Scattered outbreaks of influenza were observed throughout the year.

Hospitals

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There are 19,779 hospital beds in Hong Kong, representing 4.4 beds for each thousand of the population. This figure includes beds in private hospitals and maternity and nursing homes, but excludes those maintained by the Armed Forces.

There are four major acute hospitals serving as regional hospitals - Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kwong Wah Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital.

Queen Mary Hospital, with 1,161 beds, is the regional hospital for Hong Kong Island. It also is the teaching hospital for the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the largest general hospital in Hong Kong with 1,898 beds, is the regional hospital for East Kowloon and the eastern New Territories.

Kwong Wah Hospital, a government-assisted hospital with 1,552 beds, is the regional hospital for West Kowloon.

Princess Margaret Hospital, opened in 1975, has 1,250 beds. It serves as a regional hospital for the western New Territories and contains an infectious diseases unit and a geriatric unit.

In addition, there are a number of district, convalescent, maternity and special hospitals to support the regional hospitals. A number of treatment centres are main- tained in penal institutions.→

In the voluntary sector, there are 21 hospitals with 8,199 beds. The voluntary organisations receive substantial financial help from the government each year. There also are 11 private hospitals with 2,289 beds.

Clinics

Outpatient services provided by the government, subsidised organisations and private agencies are developing steadily. The government operates 52 general outpatient clinics and a number of polyclinics and specialist clinics. The second phase of the South Kwai Chung Polyclinic was completed in 1977, providing accommodation and facilities for a comprehensive range of specialist services. The first stage of the new East Kowloon Polyclinic began operating in phases in July and the Arran Street Child Assessment Clinic was opened later in the year. Mobile dispensaries and floating clinics take medical services to the islands and remote areas of the New Territories. Other inaccessible areas are visited regularly by the flying doctor service operated by the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.