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The Department of Health (DH) called on parents of primary and secondary school students to enrol their children in the Student Health Service which may help them detect any health problem at an early stage.

The plea was made by the Consultant Community Medicine (Student Health Service) of DH, Dr Mak Kwok-hang during a press conference today (September 8) on the enrolment of students.

Noting that the Student Health Service had provided a comprehensive range of promotional and preventive health services to primary and secondary day school students since 1995, Dr Mak said the services were well received by parents.

"The health condition of millions of enrolled students has been carefully assessed over the years and prompt treatment was given to those detected with various kinds of health problems.

"In the last school year, the most common health problems found among school students were failed vision tests, obesity and scoliosis," Dr Mak said.

In the 2002/03 school year, students who failed vision tests made up 18.6 per cent of all students tested, compared with 19.8 per cent in 2001/02 and 19 per cent in 2000/01.

"Vision problem can seriously affect the learning process and school performance of the students.

"It is therefore important that these problems are identified at an early stage to enable remedial action to be taken without delay," Dr Mak said.

The percentage of obese students in 2002/03 was 15.1, compared with 13.6 and 14.1 in 2001/02 and 2000/01 respectively.

For scoliosis, the percentage in 2002/03 was 10.5, compared with 9.2 in 2001/02 and 8 in 2000/01.

"The increase may be attributable to the alertness of parents who brought forward their children with back problems for screening," Dr Mak said.

Dr Mak called on parents to watch out for any health problems in their children and to take full advantage of the service provided by his unit.

He encouraged parents and students to join the Student Health Services, which sets out to promote the physical and psychological health of students and is provided free of charge.

Invitation letters together with enrolment forms and information leaflets are now sent through schools to parents of primary school students (P.1-6) and secondary day school students (F.1-7).

"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 via their schools by September 20," Dr Mak said.

Appointment letters containing the dates of appointment and names of the Student Health Service Centres will be sent to students in due course.

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 counselling and health education.

Members of the public who wish to know more about the 2003/04 Student Health Service may call 2349 4212 for information.

End/Monday, September 8, 2003

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