September 2, 2001
The Department of Health (DH) today (September 2) called on parents of primary and secondary school students to enroll their children in the 2001/02 Student Health Service.
The Consultant Community Medicine (Student Health Service) of DH, Dr Mak Kwok-hang said:"The annual service is to promote the physical and psychological health of school students and is provided free of charge."
"Invitation letters together with enrolment forms and information leaflets are being sent via the schools to parents of primary school students (primary 1 to 6) and secondary day school students (form 1 to 7)."
The service was introduced in 1995. Primary and secondary day school students are entitled to receive a comprehensive range of promotive and preventive health services.
Dr Mak said:"Each enrolled student will be given an appointment at a Student Health Service Centre of DH to attend a series of health assessment and health education programmes designed to cater for the health needs at various stages of the student's growth."
"Parents wishing to enrol their children should complete and return the enrolment forms to DH through the schools on or before Saturday, September 29 this (2001) year."
"Appointment letters containing the dates of appointment and names of the Student Health Service Centres will be sent to students in due course."
For public enquiries on the 2001/02 Student Health Service, please telephone 2349 4212.
Dr Mak said:"The health assessment programmes will include physical examination; screening for health problems related to growth, nutrition, blood pressure, vision, hearing, spine, sexual development and psychosocial health; and individual counseling and health education."
"Students found to have health problems will be referred to DH's Special Assessment Centres for detailed assessment and follow-up or to the appropriate specialist clinics for further management."
"A personal health assessment report incorporating suggestions on health improvement will be provided to parents/students."
DH now has a total 12 Student Health Service Centres and three Special Assessment Centres to serve some 950 000 primary and secondary school students.
In addition, eyesight and audiometric screening tests for primary 1 students, previously provided by the Education Department, have been incorporated into the health assessment programmes of DH's Student Health Service since last year. Parents of primary and secondary school students are urged to enrol their children to take full advantage of the service.