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HEALTH

A Central Neo-natal Screening Laboratory was established in 1984. The main function of this unit is to co-ordinate the laboratory activities of the territory-wide neo-natal screening programme on congenital hypothyroidism and glucose-6-phosphatase dehydro- genose deficiency.

The Forensic Pathology Service, through its forensic laboratory, works closely with the Police Force on the medical aspects of criminology and other medical-legal work. It also administers public mortuaries.

The Institute of Radiology and Oncology comprises two major divisions: the Diagnostic Radiology Division and the Radiotherapy and Oncology Division. The Diagnostic Radiology Division provides a diagnostic organ-imaging service for government institutes and the government subvented Nam Long Hospital. A consultant service is available to all government-subvented hospitals and private medical practitioners on a fee-charging basis. The Radiotherapy and Oncology Division provides comprehensive radiotherapy programmes and a chemotherapy service. The division also operates a cancer registry covering the whole territory.

The Radiation Health Unit undertakes regular visits to medical, commercial and industrial premises to inspect the working conditions of radiation workers. Radiation licences are also issued in accordance with the Radiation Ordinance and Regulations.

The Pharmaceutical Service is made up of two divisions, with a total establishment of 874 including 77 pharmacists. The first division provides pharmaceutical service to all government hospitals and clinics. The second division deals with the inspection and licensing of pharmaceutical manufacturers and dealers and the registration and import- export control of pharmaceutical products and medicines. During the year, continued action was carried out against the illegal sale and distribution of pharmaceutical products and medicines, resulting in 75 prosecutions.

Community Nursing Service

The Community Nursing Service provides domiciliary and rehabilitation nursing care and treatment to the sick, the elderly infirm, and the disabled in their own homes.

Jointly operated by eight agencies including the Medical and Health Department, the service functions from a network of 48 hospital stations and satellite centres. During the year, 12 300 patients were served and more than 232 000 home visits were made.

Health Education

The Central Health Education Unit of the Medical and Health Department is responsible for organising, co-ordinating and promoting health education activities. The unit was actively involved in a number of campaigns, including the AIDS education and publicity campaign, the 'Health for All, All for Health' campaign, food hygiene and anti-malaria campaign.

Due to the outbreak of hepatitis A and measles in the early part of the year, the unit was enlisted to provide health education support to the control of the two diseases. This included media interviews, the production and distribution of pamphlets, posters, and videos, and the setting up of the 24-hour telephone information service.

During the summer, more Young Health Leader Training Project courses were con- ducted, training 114 students from 22 secondary schools in health and leadership skills. The programme included lectures, games, slide shows on health-related subjects so that the young health leaders could help to promote health inside their schools.

Other activities for youths included anti-smoking, adolescent health and sex education workshops at the audio-visual centres. Voluntary agencies and schools may also borrow film, video and slides free of charge, for their own health education activities.