ENG-1986 — Page 159

HEALTH

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second group comprises health care workers who are in frequent contact with blood and blood products or tissue fluids.

The Medical and Health Department continued to administer a combined neo-natal screening programme for glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenose deficiency and congenital hypothyroidism to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of infants who may otherwise develop disabilities or mental retardation. The programme managed to cover all babies born in government and subvented hospitals. Based on the result of the screening pro- gramme so far, the prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency in local male babies is 4.5 per cent whereas the frequency of congenital hypothyroidism disorder is one in 3 200 live births. Prompt follow-up and remedial measures were instituted and the development of per- manent disabilities in these children was therefore avoided. In 1986, the programme was extended to cover babies born in private hospitals as well.

In November 1984, an Advisory Committee on AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) consisting of medical experts from the Medical and Health Department and the two universities was established to monitor the global development of this disease. The committee, in the light of available scientific data and knowledge and in line with the recommendations from centres for disease control in the United States and the World Health Organisation, set up guidelines to medical, nursing and laboratory personnel on the diagnosis and handling of AIDS cases. Laboratory facilities and clinical expertise for the screening, diagnosis, counselling and management of the disease were also set up.

To prevent the possible transmission of the disease through blood transfusion, the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service introduced a blood screening programme in August 1985. All blood and blood products in the blood transfusion service were screened for the presence of any antibody to the AIDS virus before use.

Health educational activities on the subject were stepped up to educate the public on the facts of the disease and to allay any misconception and undue anxiety. The department's Central Health Education Unit produced special leaflets on the subject, and a 24-hour telephone service was set up for those wanting to know more about the subject. Emphasis was placed on reaching the special at-risk group in the community. A special AIDS counselling and consultative clinic service was also established in November 1985.

An active surveillance programme was set up in 1985 to monitor the likely occurrence of the disease in many of the high-risk groups. So far only three confirmed cases of AIDS have been detected. Follow-up investigations had revealed previous history of contacts with the risk factors and carriers while they were abroad. All three cases had died in the later part of 1985.

Hospitals and Development Programmes

There are three types of hospitals in Hong Kong - government, government-assisted and private – with a total of 24 550 beds, representing 4.4 beds per thousand of the population. During the year, pressure on the service was experienced on all fronts. This was reflected by the increase in attendance at out-patient clinics, and by the number of hospital admissions.

As stated earlier, the Medical and Health Department's overall plan for the decade involves the construction of at least four more government hospitals: a 1 600-bed hospital in Tuen Mun, a 1 600-bed hospital in Chai Wan, a 1 500-bed hospital in East Kowloon and a 1 430-bed hospital in Tai Po. Plans also include the provision of extension blocks to the first three regional hospitals: the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Hospitals.