The HKMA Community Network

Central Coordinators: Dr. CHAN Yee Shing, Alvin
Dr. CHOW Pak Chin
Dr. HO Chung Ping, MH, JP

The community networks built in the districts during the outbreak of SARS in 2003 will be reinforced to support the health education activities and community health services at the district level. The Central Coordinators would renew the liaisons with the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health, the Home Affairs Bureau and Department, the Education and Manpower Bureau as well as various non-governmental Organizations to facilitate the development of the network in the districts. As each district has its own strengths and opportunities, they are encouraged to develop programs to fit the need of the community there. The Central Coordinators would establish resource development working groups to support these programs.

On-going Project

HKMA Beat Drugs Project

The HKMA Beat Drugs Project consists of two schemes: "Beat Drug Star" Scheme and "Beat Drug Friend" Scheme. We hope the Project can facilitate the coordination among the HKMA Community Network, the Government, Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations (FPTAs), Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers (CCPSAs) and the District Youth Outreaching Social Work Teams (YOTs) to achieve the ultimate goal of helping high-risk youths and young drug abusers.

"Beat Drug Star" Scheme is a medical approach which involves doctors who completed training courses on management of drug abuse patients and are willing to conduct motivational interviews with the high-risk youths and drug addicts. The participating doctors will be given a "Beat Drug Star" logo to be posted outside their clinics for patients' reference and equipped with a Protocol for handling cases.

"Beat Drug Friend" Scheme is a social approach which involves doctors who are willing to do voluntary work and participate in leisure activities with youngsters, i.e. to deliver health talks, sing karaoke, play ball games, become mentors, etc.