Community Health Initiative in Kwun Tong District in Hong Kong
Kwun Tong, Hong Kong's most densely populated and economically challenged district, faces unique healthcare challenges, particularly for its large elderly population. In collaboration with the Kwun Tong District Council and District Member of Parliament (MP), I launched a series of community services aimed at improving the well-being of vulnerable residents, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bringing Healthcare Access to the Grassroots Elderly: Community Initiatives for Better Health
I've always cared deeply about the grassroots elderly in my community. Over the past six years, I’ve volunteered at the Councillor's Office in Yau Tang District, one of Hong Kong's poorest areas, and have witnessed firsthand the lack of medical resources and basic health knowledge among the elderly. To address this, I organized the district's first medical lecture and free consultations during the Easter holiday. I invited Dr. Jane Chan Chun-Kwong, President of the Hong Kong Medical Association, as our keynote speaker to talk about "Respiratory System Rehabilitation After COVID-19" and to provide free consultations. I also shared information on dementia prevention. More than 100 elderly residents attended, asking Dr. Chan about their health concerns and encouraging me to organize similar events in the future. After the lecture, I distributed health-care brochures and medical kits that I designed.
In addition, I raised funds to donate table tennis facilities to the community, giving the elderly more opportunities for physical activity as part of dementia prevention efforts. Seeing how much these activities meant to everyone motivated me to expand them to other underserved districts in Hong Kong.
This summer, I successfully organized another round of free physical exams and medical lectures for the elderly in Sham Shui Po, another of Hong Kong's poorest areas. I also connected with the district councillors from Sham Shui Po and Yau Tang, as well as the Hong Kong Medical Association Council, to explore ways of making these initiatives a regular effort for the benefit of grassroots elderly communities.