Hong Kong SAR’s COVID-19 Health and Community Care Strategy

Hong Kong SAR’s COVID-19 Health and Community Care Strategy

17 years ago, when the world experienced severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Hong Kong SAR was one of the nations badly hit. The experience gathered in dealing with SARS has ensured Hong Kong SAR is constantly prepared for an onset of another widespread infectious disease. 17 years later, when the world is now hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong SAR’s stringent and early measures to control the virus are seeing results from the years of preparedness. Through a variety of measures that include rigorous contact tracing, self-isolation, social distancing, quarantine and testing, Hong Kong SAR was able to flatten the curve.

The nature of nursing homes and the resident population served are at the highest risk of being infected with COVID-19. Residents are highly vulnerable and many homes have taken stringent measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the facility. These measures include facility lockdowns, video visitations and so on. As facilities around the world struggle to deal with the virus situation, Hong Kong has a zero rate of infection in local nursing homes. Dr The Honourable Lam Ching Choi, Member of the Executive Council, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, BBS, JP, who is also the Chairman of the Elderly Commission of Hong Kong SAR and Chief Executive Officer, Haven of Hope Christian Service expresses that even as the curve is flattened, it is important to remain vigilant and to keep the virus control measures in place. The global epidemic is a protracted war and the anti-epidemic restrictions at elderly homes will have to be slowly lifted. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dr. The Honourable Lam Ching-choi, SBS, JP, Member of the Executive Council, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, The People’s Republic of China, Chairman, Elderly Commission of Hong Kong SAR and Chief Executive Officer, Haven of Hope Christian Service

Dr. Lam Ching-choi is a specialist in paediatric and community medicine and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Haven of Hope Christian Service.  Under his leadership, Haven of Hope Christian Service is one of the pioneers in the provision of holistic care for the elderly in Hong Kong.

He is a non-official member of the Executive Council of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He also serves as the Chairman of the Elderly Commission to advise the Government on the related policies. He is also the Chairman of the Community Investment & Inclusion Fund Committee.

Dr. Lam has been honored by the HKSAR Government with the Justice of Peace in 2003 and Bronze Bauhinia Star in 2008 respectively. In 2018, apart from receiving Honorary Fellowship from Lingnan University, he was also given the Ageing Asia Global Ageing Influencer Award for his devotion to public services and his influence on policy-making for the global ageing trend.

Ms Janice Chia, Founder & Managing Director, Ageing Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore

Influenced by the changing needs of her elders, Janice was inspired to start Ageing Asia to drive and nurture opportunities and the development of innovation and solutions that address the evolving needs of the rising ageing population in the region. Having accumulated a vast experience from visiting over 300 residential and aged care homes from over 15 countries since starting her practice in 2009, Janice has been actively involved in consulting organisations seeking global best practices in housing, health and care models that can be translated for the Asian market. She has also been quoted regularly in the media, such as the BBC, on Asia Pacific business trends in ageing. Janice has also launched several industry initiatives, including, ASPIRE55 Singapore – Asia’s first virtual retirement village, a wellbeing community that offers a combination of social, health and care services, but enables members to continue living in their existing homes.