The Dilemma of National Service Training Program

Every time there is a death among the participants of the National Service (NS) program, it generates a lot of publicity, sympathy and anxiety among parents. The issue should be viewed more rationally. Last year, a comparison was made between the mortality of the general population of the same age group and the participants of the NS program. The Ministry of Health found that the mortality rate was very much lower in those undergoing the NS program. However, as the 'captured group' undergoing this program, any death attracts adverse publicity.

Further analysis showed that most deaths occurring during NS ccouldn't have been prevented by a compulsory medical examination. It was revealed during the study that if the participants could answer the medical questions more clearly and truthfully, it would have been more useful that just a medical examination. It was found that many did not answer the questions accurately.

When I made a surprise visit to some NS camps, the medical personnel manning the clinic were not properly trained, not sensitive and not well acquainted with medical emergencies. The medical equipment used was outdated and the range of medication was very limited. It was then recommended by MOH that when the NS program is on, MOH Medical assistants and nurses should be temprorily rotated to staff the clinincs. Meanwhile, as a long term measure, the Ministry of Defense should train its own staff to run the medical clinics in NS camps. It was also decided that they should also purchase their own ambulances and if a trainee did not get well within 24 hours, they should be sent to the nearest hospital as an urgent case that requires immediate medical attention. Equipment should be added and medication should be expanded. No trainee should be kept in camp for more than 24 hours when they are sick. This had been subsequently presented and discussed in the Cabinet late last year. I have no idea whether this has implemented in this training session.

We can understand the anxiety of parents sending their children to the NS camp and the camp commandant and medical personnel should be more caring and sensitive to the needs of the trainee. In order to convince parents that there is no cover up in any death, the cause of death should be revealed after detailed investigation has been carried out and any party proven to be negligent should face the consequences. Maybe parents should be allowed as part of orientation to visit the camp to convince themselves that the relevant authorities do care and do the utmost to ensure safety for their children when undergoing NS camp. It will be a shame to abolish NS training program since it has been proven again and again its positive value on the development of the children, especially on multiracial interaction, being more independent when leaving home. In one of my visits to the camp, a lot of participants said that they have never had a chance to stay outside and a lot have very sheltered lives, with very limited social interaction and friends.

-----------------------------------

国民服务计划的推行是利还是弊？

每当发生国民服务学员逝世事件，即引起社会广大的回响，挑起父母怜悯之心和焦虑情绪。学员在营中或训练期间发生事故、意外或死亡，无不让人心痛难过，这都是我们不愿看到的。尽管如此，对于悲剧的发生，我们还是应该理智区去看待和探讨。卫生部过去曾对国内年届服役年龄的年轻国民的死亡率进行统计，研究报告结果显示发生在国民服务计划期间的死亡率，相对于全国以及参加的人数是很小的比例。但由于这些学员是“锁定”的一群，所以格外引人瞩目，任何意外、事故或死亡事件都只会引来反面的反应。

国民服务计划规定所有学员进营前需进行体检，并如实填写健康状况表格。尽管如此，学员逝世的悲剧还是发生。有关当局在事后进一步检讨和分析后，发现有关学员其实没有秉实公告自己的健康状况，在填写表格时，没有据实承认健康异样或承认患有表格上列出的某种病症。其实，如果学员们能诚实地回答，当局将会重审他们的参与资格，不符合健康条件的参加者将被豁免服役。这种双互配合的帮助更甚于医药体检。

我担任卫生部长期间，曾到数个营地进行突击访问，我发现在集中营驻诊的部分医药人员并没有经过严格的医药培训，对紧急病例缺乏应对能力；营里所采用的医疗设施和器材也过时了，药物种类也非常有限。因此，卫生部较后向当局建议，每当展开国民服务计划，卫生部将派医药助理和护士，轮值驻诊在营地的诊疗所。由于政府议医院的人手有限，长远之计，我也建议国防部必须培训和自组医药队伍负责和操作集中营的诊疗所。当局也决定购置救护车，派驻在各营地应急。此外，当局也同意卫生部的建议，如果学员在营内身体不适，在24小时内仍不见好转，必须即刻送往邻近的医院，院方得列紧急病例进行医救。与此同时，营中诊疗所必须添置医疗器材和药物。生病的学员不能逗留在营内超过24小时。以上的建议和措施在去年已经向内阁提呈让内阁成员一同讨论，我不清楚是否会在今年的服务计划落实。

我们深切了解父母对送孩子入营的担忧和矛盾。为了加强父母和学员对此计划的信心，国民服务集中营的教官和医药人员必须对学员的需求体现更关怀和敏感的专业态度。针对死亡病例，当局也应该公开调查报告和死因，证明没有任何一方有所保留和隐瞒。而被证实疏忽处理导致死亡的人员或单位，也须严正处罚。

我想，在迎新周期间，当局或许可考虑让父母参观集中营，让父母亲睹营中的实况包括安全措施，以让他们对孩子在受训期间的安全和保障有信心。国民服务计划推行至今，对孩子成长和品德塑造产生许多正面的价值和受认可的成果，特别是促进和加强年轻一代和多元族群同胞的交融，及离家后的独立生活能力。我在其中一趟访问中和学员们近距离交流，许多学员坦承从未体验离家的群体生活，和朋友聚集交流的活动也非常有限。这表示，国民服务计划确实有推行的价值，如果被废除，对国家培育新生的议程而言确是一大遗憾啊。