community health

preventive services, mainly outside the hospital, involving the surveillance of special groups of the population, such as preschool and school children, women, and the elderly, by means of routine clinical assessment and screening test. Routine preventive measures, such as immunization, birth control, and dietary advice, are offered in special clinics staffed by community nurses, clinical medical officers, and senior clinical medical officers and sometimes by community paediatrician. When somebody is identified as having an illness, he (or she) is referred for treatment to a general practitioner or hospital as appropriate. See also child health clinic, community dentistry, school health service.