ENG-1980 — Page 123

HEALTH

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A Comprehensive Observation Scheme introduced in 1978 to detect and assess early developmental abnormalities, and where necessary to provide follow-up treatment, is now available at 38 Maternal and Child Health centres. Children attending these centres may be referred to child assessment centres staffed by specialists from various assessment fields, including paediatricians trained in child development and assessment, clinical psychologists, medical social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and audiology technicians. This system enables rehabilitation processes to commence as early as possible. An expansion programme to set up more child assessment centres is now in progress. In Hong Kong, parents are advised to complete their families before mothers reach the age of 35, in order to reduce the likelihood of disabled children being born.

The government-subvented Family Planning Association of Hong Kong runs 18 clinics. which provide vasectomy, female sterilisation, and sub-fertility services, as well as giving advice to young people. It conducts educational programmes for school and community agencies; runs training programmes for midwives, teachers and social workers; organises information and publicity campaigns; and carries out clinical trials and surveys.

The combined efforts of staff in the Family Health Service, the Comprehensive Observa- tion Scheme and the Central Health Education Unit, along with the high standards of obstetrical and paediatric care, have largely contributed to the placing of the health status of Hong Kong children amongst the highest in the world. The infant mortality rate for the territory has dropped over the past 25 years from 73.6 per thousand live births to 11.8 per thousand,

School Health

The School Medical Service is operated by the School Medical Service Board, an independ- ent body incorporated by ordinance. Participation is voluntary and, for a contribution of $5 a year, school-children can receive free medical treatment. The government contributes $30 a year for each pupil enrolled and also finances the board's administrative expenses. The School Health Service, a government responsibility, deals with the environmental health and sanitation of school premises and the control of communicable diseases. School health inspectors make routine inspections and health officers immunise school-children against childhood infectious diseases. Rubella vaccination has also been included in the school immunisation programme.

Mental Health

The major event in the Mental Health Service in 1980 was the opening of the 1,336-bed psychiatric hospital at South Kwai Chung. Built on an 11-hectare site near the Princess Margaret Hospital, the new hospital is expected to relieve pressure on the Castle Peak Hospital. The psychiatric unit at Kowloon Hospital and the university psychiatric unit at Queen Mary Hospital also provide comprehensive psychiatric services in a general hospital setting. Having regard to the modern, universal trend in hospital development, future psychiatric units will be incorporated in general hospitals along with other specialised treatment units. The Mental Health Service operates on a multi-disciplinary approach comprising both medical and para-medical staff, such as clinical psychologists, medical social workers and occupational therapists.

Supplementing hospital treatment are five day-centres the Hong Kong Psychiatric Centre, the psychiatric unit at Kowloon Hospital, the Yau Ma Tei Psychiatric Centre, the Chai Wan Psychiatric Centre and the South Kwai Chung Psychiatric Centre. They provide occupational, social and recreational therapy. Severely mentally-handicapped patients are