ENG-2009 — Page 213

Health 157

care and parenting. Immunisation and health and development checks are offered to children. Antenatal, postnatal, family planning, cervical screening and health education are provided for women. Some 25 600 expectant mothers and 61 700 newborn children attended maternal and child health centres in 2009, respectively representing about 31 per cent and 74 per cent of the total.

The government-subvented Family Planning Association (FPA) of Hong Kong offers services and health information on sexual and reproductive health treatments and counselling at its clinics, youth healthcare centres, women's clubs, and libraries. These received subsidies amounting to $34.87 million in the 2008-09 financial year. Over 100 000 people used these services in 2008.

Student Health

The Department of Health provides health checks and individual counselling to primary and secondary school students at its 12 student health service centres and three special assessment centres. A total of 737 922 students between the age of six and 19 used the services in the 2008-09 school year.

In addition, school health inspectors pay regular visits to schools to check on their hygiene standards, while health officers and nurses provide advice on preventing communicable diseases. School Immunisation Teams under the auspices. of the department's Centre of Health Protection make annual visits to primary. schools to administer vaccinations.

Elderly Health

The Department of Health has 18 elderly health centres and 18 visiting health. teams to render primary health care to the elderly, improve their ability to care for themselves and encourage healthy living and their family's support. These centres provide health assessments, physical check-ups, counselling, curative treatment, health education and other healthcare services to people aged 65 and above. The visiting health teams conduct health promotion activities for the elderly and provide training for carers to improve their caring. In 2009, the elderly health centres recorded 38 678 enrolments and 174 402 attendances for health assessment and medical consultation, while the visiting health teams provided service to 279 553 client contacts.

Community Health

In line with the international trend of focusing more on development of ambulatory and community care programmes, the Hospital Authority has stepped up the development of community healthcare services to reduce reliance on inpatient services and facilitate patients' rehabilitation in the community. In 2009, the Hospital Authority continued to step up training for family physicians, community paediatricians, community physicians, general practitioners and other community health practitioners in the drive to improve community health care. It has also strengthened its services for discharged patients.