ENG-1988 — Page 183

HEALTH

151

and their families in mental health. There are now seven such centres, accepting referrals from hospitals and psychiatric out-patient clinics, and four more centres have been planned. Other complementary rehabilitative services include day centres, half-way houses, long stay care homes, vocational training, selective placement and social clubs offered by various government departments and voluntary agencies.

Severely mentally handicapped persons requiring intensive nursing and medical treat- ment are cared for at the 200-bed Siu Lam Hospital and 300 beds in Caritas Medical Centre. A further 704 beds in this category have been planned for the next decade to meet the continuing need.

Dental Services

The School Dental Care Service aims at promoting dental health among school children. Services provided include regular dental examination, treatment and oral health education. Since 1987, the programme has been extended to all primary school children. In 1988, 373 608 took part in the service, representing 69 per cent of the school population. Oral health education on dental care for the community is also organised from time to time.

The Government Dental Service provides dental care for all monthly-paid government servants, pensioners and their dependants, as well as simple dental treatment for inmates of penal institutions and specialist treatment for patients in government hospitals. Emergency treatment is also provided for the public at a number of district dental clinics.

Port Health

The Port Health Service is the control authority whose function is to prevent the introduction of quarantinable diseases into the territory via air, land, rail or sea and to enforce the measures stipulated under the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance and 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 interna- tional voyages and ensures adequate standards of hygiene and sanitation on board vessels or aircraft. It provides medical assistance to ships and planes within the territory, and telecommunicates medical advice to vessels at sea. It operates a 24-hour health clearance service for all incoming vessels, including those ferrying refugees, and grants radio pratique to ships.

The health staff also maintains close surveillance of the food catering service provided for international airlines to ensure that food and water supplied to flight kitchens are clean and safe. 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.

Special Services

The Pathology Service provides clinical and public health laboratory services for govern- ment hospitals and clinics, and a consultant service for the government-assisted sector. It also administers hospital mortuaries and blood banks.

The Institute of Immunology undertakes the monitoring and quality control of bio- logical products, including vaccines for use in the local health services. The Virus Unit provides a central laboratory service for the diagnosis and surveillance of viral infections, including AIDS. In addition, it provides laboratory support for the screening, assessment and guidance of vaccination programmes against viral infections.