Stand Tall

Today was a great day full of vocational site visits.  It is very apparent that District Governor Nominee Kenneth Wong has worked very hard to ensure a variety of vocational experiences to expose us to many issues that we were curious about, and also some that we were not previously aware of.

Our site visit this afternoon to Prince of Wales Hospital focused on the Stand TALL Program, a humanitarian organization started by Dr. K.M Chan, Chair Professor and Chief of Orthopedics at Prince of Wales Hospital in response to the devestating earthquake in the Sichuan Province in China in May 2008.  This earthquake, measuring a 7.9 on the Richter scale, killed 69,000 people and left an approximately 4.8 million people homeless.

Realizing the extent of suffering of his fellow Chinese people in the Sichuan province, Dr. Chan was able to mobilize the goodwill of the Hong Kong people into Stand TALL, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing state of the art prosthetics and technology to victims of the earthquake who suffered amputations and spinal cord injuries, with a strong emphasis on providing aid to affected children.

Three years later, Stand TALL has evolved into a comprehensive rehabilitation program attending to the physical,  functional, and psychologcal needs of it's patients, as well as an educational program which provides training to Chinese medical students via Tele-education, with the aim of increasing the local orthopedic services in the Sichuan province.

With the support of the Hong Kong people and the local Rotary Clubs of District 3450, this program has not only successfully changed the lives of victims of the earthquake, but is poised to continue its mission of supporting the health and wellbeing of the people of the Sichuan Province for years to come.

Learn more about Stand TALL by visiting their website at http://www.standtallchina.org/

Maria D'Andrea

Shenzhen- Mainland China

From Top to Bottom: The Gang at Splendid China; Splendid China; Shenzhen skyline from museum; Shenzhen street musician

Our Passport pages are filling up! Saturday, we all went to the Mainland to the city of Shenzhen. We were accompanied by our host Kenneth Wong and several of his GSE team members that went to Brazil last year- Pauline, Joe, and Yolanda, along with another guest. First stop was Splendid China, a cultural theme park that explores the many different regions, cultures, and history of China. Detailed model villages, life-size replicas, and costumed actors portrayed the variety found in China. We all tested our taste-buds limits at lunch eating Sichuan (or Szechaun as it's known at home). With most dishes very being very spicy, it was quite a meal. At the Shenzhen Museum of history, we learned how this small rural village has now become a growing metropolis. Only about 25 years old since urban development has started, the city population has grown to an astounding 8 million people and is responsible for about of 1/3 of China's GDP (along with two near by cities). We then went to a large book store/mall. Outside, some of us were treated to an elderly street musician that wowed us with his talent. Hopefully Darren will able to share that video on this blog. The feasting continued at a Shanghainese restaurant where one of the highlights were the "Chinese" doughnuts. We ended our long day of walking with a traditional foot massage, based on reflexology practice. This massage lasted for 1 whole hour! We were all ready for a good nights rest after that.

The last two days have been full of vocational activities.

On Thursday we had a day of traditional Chinese Medicine, first at the Baptist Hospital, where there is an organized faculty and fully funded university level teaching program leading to a degree of doctor of chinese medicine. It is backed up by a highly developed and equiped research program evaluating the formulation, stability, purity, and manufacture of herbal medications. Such issues as source contamination with heavy metals, consistency, purity, efficacy, and formulation into granules, capsules, or tablets were being researched. We also saw our first chinese medicine pharmacy with drawer after drawer of botanicals of all sorts, which were being weighed and mixed to be taken home and steeped into tea. We also had an introduction into acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion. And and introduction into the traditional approach to examination and diagnosis.

We then went on to Tung Wah Hospital in the afternoon to see this famous charity hospital with a 100 year history of voluntary non-profit work with 1000 beds, three sites, and associated schools. They, to, had an active chinese medicine clinic and pharmacy, this time with an automated prescription fulfillment robot, if you can believe it. They were using an electronic medical record in the clinic that had been there for 9 years! State of the art, I'd say.

Yesterday we spent at Princes Margaret Hospital, thee infectious disease hospital in the city and center of the SARS epidemic management in 2003. It was fascinating to see the huge impact that event had on the city and the reorganization of the health care system to deal with future threats of tha type. It is also clear that the event of that time have left a hugh impact on the citizens of Hong Kong, and especially the healthcare workers involved, many of whom died.

Burt Dibble

Do you remember 2003?

Top-Simulation Lab on Infection Ward with our host Dr. Danny Tong who worked as an ICU nurse during SARS

Bottom-Waiting to enter Infection Control Ward (thankfully empty at present)

Intensive Care Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital

If I really thought about it, I could remember that 2003 was the year of SARS. But it would take me a few minutes. While 9/11 is a date that will forever be in our minds, here in Hong Kong it is March of 2003 that changed everything. Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), known for it's expertise in infection control since the 1970s, became the epicenter of SARS. Policies for hospitals and public health were drafted and carried out at this facility. These practices have since shaped they way infection control is approached in Hong Kong today. Everywhere we go, there are alcohol based cleansers, posters encouraging hygiene, and surgical masks (at times). While concerns for another epidemic are not always at the forefront of lay people's minds, it is not far from the health care workers at PMH. Entire floors are dedicated to the care of critically ill and infectious patients. Life and death in both patients and health care workers were very real in 2003. We all admire the dedication and sacrifice that these people made.

After touring the general isolation ward and dim sum lunch, we were treated to specialty-based visits for each team member. Burt, Karen, DGN Kenneth, and guests visited the local mental health hospital; Darren to the medical records center; Maria to the CCU telemetry and medical floor; Tracey to the physiotherapy rehab; and I to the ICU. I am again pleased and surprised by how similar we are (well, I don't wear a mask all the time). The comprehensive and up-to-date medical care that these ICU nurses provide is excellent and more than just equal to our own. I won't bore you all with the details, but my coworkers at home will get an earful! We all went home to our host families for the evening to share fellowship with them. I was lucky enough to spend it with my host family's daughter Chloe, who took me to my first Vietnamese restaurant. Delicious! We then bargained our way through the Night Market on Temple Street. We rode back home on my first double-decker bus. I'm sure my teammates had equally enjoyable nights as well. Tomorrow, Shenzhen on the Mainland!

East Meets West

March 3, 2011

The morning was spent learning about Chinese medicine at Baptist University.  Amazing scientific studies are being conducted at to prove that herbs are an effective treatment for many illnesses.  Darren was the volunteer for acupuncture demonstration.  The afternoon was spent at Kwong Wah Hospital to which incorporates both Western medicine and Chinese.  We all got to try some herbal tea to balance our energy.  We had a beautiful dinner at Regal Hotel International with two local Rotary Clubs.

Past, Present, and Fun in Hong Kong

Top: Avenue of Stars
Bottom: Hong Kong Museum of History

Top: View from Victoria Peak

Bottom: Happy Valley Race Course

Today was all about history, sightseeing, and at the end of the night a little bit of luck. We started the day on Wan Chai Ferry to the Waterfront of Tsim Sha Tsui along Victoria Harbour. We walked the Hong Kong version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and saw names like Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, and of course, Bruce Lee. Next was a little bit of history at the Hong Kong Museum of History. We were then treated to an incredible Indian lunch at the Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC for us "natives") where old fans of Indian cuisine and new converts enjoyed many offerings. Our gracious host Ken Wong made sure I got some "Indian hot" dishes for my taste buds! After a tour of the cricket club (by the club president no less and also a Rotary charter president), we traveled to the top of Victoria Peak. There were beautiful views of the city despite the hazy weather. Then it was off the races! We enjoyed another diverse and delicious buffet in the KCC Club box at the Happy Valley Race Course. Our host Vito Lee made sure we were well taken care of whether we won or lost. And there were winners! Darren, Karen, and Burt had lady luck on their sides, with Karen and Burt winning twice! Thank you to SiuPo, Wendy, Karen, and Fonia for being our guides today.

Mar1st

We started the day at HK Red Cross JFK Center. An amazing place that does great work with children with physical disabilities. It was nice to see how the Rotary has made several improvements in helping the children. We had a beautiful lunch at Lusitano and gave our second presentation. In the afternoon we went to the Genetic Center. Dinner was held at the Boy Scouts Building which opened up to a patio where we got a birds eye view of the lazier lights.