ENG-1979 — Page 128

HEALTH

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The MacLehose Dental Centre in Wan Chai, completed in 1978, includes a training school for dental therapists and hygienists, and a school dental clinic.

The School Dental Care Service began operating on a trial basis in November, 1979. Its objective is to prevent dental decay in schoolchildren by regular examinations and simple conservation treatment. The programme has started with Primary 1 students and its phased development will eventually cover all primary schoolchildren. Six other school dental clinics are planned for the 1980s.

Voluntary bodies and welfare organisations operate some free or low cost dental clinics for the public.

Port Health

The Port Health Service enforces health control at Hong Kong International Airport and in the territory's waters, to prevent the introduction of quarantinable diseases and to carry out other measures required under the International Health Regulations.

The service provides facilities for vaccination and the issuing of international vaccination certificates. It also inspects and supervises the eradication of rats from ships on international voyages. The service provides medical assistance to ships in the harbour, transmits medical advice to ships at sea, operates a 24-hour health clearance service for all incoming vessels, and grants radio pratique to ships from clean ports.

Despite the strain placed on the service in 1979 by the influx of refugees from Vietnam (which is a plague-infected area), Hong Kong remained free of all major quarantinable diseases.

Epidemiological information is exchanged regularly with the World Health Organisation in Geneva and its Western Pacific regional office in Manila, and with neighbouring countries.

Special Services

The Institute of Pathology runs clinical pathology and public health laboratory services for the government and a consultant service for the government-assisted sector. It also administers mortuaries and blood banks. Vaccines are produced at the Institute of Immunology. Various virus studies on hepatitis, poliomyelitis, influenza and rubella are undertaken.

The Institute of Radiology and Oncology provides diagnostic and therapeutic services in hospitals and clinics. It handles more than 90 per cent of all patients requiring radiotherapy in Hong Kong. Visits are made to medical, commercial and industrial premises to inspect the working conditions of radiation workers and to ensure that radioactive equip- ment and substances pose no hazard. Research is being carried out on the epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is a common cancer in Hong Kong.

The Forensic Pathology Service works closely with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force on the medical aspects of criminology and other medico-legal work.

A Central Health Education Unit was established within the Medical and Health Department in 1978. Its aims are to educate people on the principles of good health, to act as a resource unit providing health education techniques for other services, and to dis- seminate health information. So far, projects commissioned have included cholera education, a campaign covering health for the elderly, and an eye care campaign.

After reviewing a two-year community nursing pilot scheme in 1979, the Medical Development Advisory Committee recommended that it should be an integral part of the medical and health services. The community nursing service provides domiciliary nursing care for the elderly and the physically and mentally handicapped. It also offers post-