Public Health Education and Civic Service

THE HONG KONG PAEDIATRIC SOCIETY

Public Health Education and Civic Service

The Public Education Committee has organised a series of educational programme with Cable TV on common paediatric problems. Dr. William Wong is the co-ordinator. The programme appears on the News Channel I Broadcast.
The 34th Healthy Children Competition, co-organised by HKPS and Sing Tao Daily/Evening Post was successfully held during the period from March to May 1997. There were 600 children participated in the competition. A series of talks, seminars, exhibitions, newspaper columns and booklets on child health were organised to provide public education. The 35th Healthy Children Competition will again be co-organised by HKPS and Sing Tao Daily in 1998.
HKPS provided articles on child health issues in the health columns of the Apple Daily and Economic Times throughout the year.
Press release on the following topics were made:
1. Myoblast Transplant Therapy on 26th March, 1997 during the 9th ACP with Dr. Y. Fukuyama (Japan) as guest speaker.
2. Play Therapy.
3. Call for Review and Professional Leadership in Hong Kong's Public Health Practice and Policies
Dr. K.C. Chan represented HKPS as advisor of Cheerland Nursery of the Boys' and Girls' Club Association of Hong Kong.
Preparation on the production of public education booklets with cartoons, and health song compact discs on child health problems were in progress. The Editors include Dr. Y. M. Ng, Dr. W. Wong, Dr. Eunice Wong, Dr. Y. S. Chan, Dr. Grace Chan and Dr. K. Liu.
Dr. M.Y. Cheng represented our Society to the Bills Committee of Legislative Council on Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 1997 and Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1997.
Our Society had issued a statement on "Tobacco Smoking in Children" to the Legislative Council stating our stand in anti-smoking. This was also distributed to our members. We urged all physicians to advise against smoking.
Education posters and pamphlets on MMR vaccination campaign were published for distribution to public by our members. These posters and pamphlets were sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme (Asia) Ltd.
A Certificate Course on Child Health sponsored by Nestle would be organised in March-May 1998 for public education. The Course, consisting of 10 lectures, would be held at Lam Woo International Conference Centre, Baptist University in five sessions.
Health Education Exhibition was organised by Kid's Pal with education posters by our Society. The Exhibition was held at Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Centre on 6th August, 1997.
Pamphlet on the management of Down Syndrome would be prepared by the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association with input from our Society. They would be distributed to our members for their reference.
Dr. R. Tseng represented our Society to give our views on "Air Pollution and Children's Health, a Matter of Urgency" to the general public organised by Citizens Party on 18th November, 1997.
Prof. Y. L. Lau attended a meeting organised by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health. A Hong Kong Children's Charter - The Right to Freedom From the Harm of Tobacco was issued.