ENG-1980 — Page 125

HEALTH

Port Health

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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 vaccina- tion 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 inflow of boat refugees from Vietnam, Hong Kong remained free of all major quarantinable diseases.

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

Refugees

In 1980, the continuing influx of Vietnamese refugees further stretched the Medical and Health Department's resources. Emphasis was placed on preventing the importation of quarantinable diseases, especially plague, and preventing the spread of communicable diseases among the refugees and to the general population. Vigorous immunisation cam- paigns and health education programmes were conducted in all refugee camps. Health screening, including chest X-ray examinations, was carried out for new arrivals and a clinic was set up in the Canton Road Reception Centre for this purpose.

Voluntary agencies co-operated with the running of camp clinics and the services of government specialists and hospitals were available to refugees upon referral. As a result of the efforts made by the government and the voluntary sector, the health status of the refugees improved significantly during their stay in Hong Kong.

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 radio- therapy 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 equipment 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.

Community Nursing

Rapid expansion characterised the year for the Community Nursing Service, which became an integral part of the medical and health services following a recommendation by the Medical Development Advisory Committee in 1979.