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The bustling, fast-paced and stressful lifestyles of city dwellers often lead them to place their health on the back burner. According the Report of Population Health Survey 2020-22, approximately 70% of Hong Kong residents aged 15 years or above do not go for regular health check-ups, exposing themselves to potential health risks.
To encourage more people to pay attention to their own health, the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) School of Nursing and Health Studies collaborated with Link to organise a Health Expo at Homantin Plaza in October. The event’s success sparked both the school and Link to plan for further expansion of services to other communities, strengthening their connection with the public and fostering a caring and inclusive society.
During the event, instructors and students from the HKMU School of Nursing and Health Studies provided complimentary blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index (BMI) and cholesterol measurements, as well as health screenings, for participants. According to Professor Paul Lam, President of HKMU, “The objective of our expo is to instil the concept of self-care among the public so that more people will prioritise their health in their daily lives. This will help them in detecting potential health risks and enable them to seek appropriate medical intervention in a timely manner. Ultimately, our goal is to improve the overall well-being of our community.”
The selection of Homantin Plaza as the venue for the Health Expo was due to its convenient location and easy accessibility, which enabled it to attract a significant number of participants. Ms Yu, who suffers from chronic diseases including diabetes and hypertension, claimed it was her first-ever experience of undergoing a health screening at a community mall. “I live nearby, so it’s very easy for me to walk here. The indoor setting and complimentary services can benefit many individuals from grassroots backgrounds, including elderly people like me.” She mentioned that she attends regular doctor visits and intends to share the health screening report she received at the event for further evaluation.
Mr Ngai, another participant, said that the event’s convenient location was the driving factor for his attendance. “I hope to see many more similar events organised at community malls. Besides helping us understand our health conditions, these events can also serve as a platform for community members to meet and exchange health insights.” He added that he would certainly invite more friends to attend similar events in the future.
Professor Lam explained the rationale for selecting Homantin Plaza as the expo’s pilot location, saying, “This community mall is close to HKMU. Link’s extensive reach to every nook and corner of the community also allows us to serve locals effectively. This advantage can help the School of Nursing and Health Studies realise its ambitions and goals of providing a broader range of health services to the community and enhancing the overall well-being of community members.
“The provision of community services inevitably involves a variety of challenges, necessitating adequate preparation,” Lam continued. “We had to estimate the number of participants to prepare sufficient medical supplies. We also had to ensure that all students had a good understanding of different diseases and were prepared to answer participants’ queries. Link supported us tremendously throughout the planning process, including sharing details about the community and the venue’s amenities. Our strong rapport resulted in a smooth-running, successful event.”
Professor Janet Wong, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, remarked that nearly 250 members of the public participated in the health check-ups. She noted that everyone at the school was delighted to contribute their professional knowledge to serve the community. The school and Link are already working to determine the venue for the next Health Expo to extend medical assistance to the broader community.
