Page 5 - CUHK MEDICAL ALUMNI Newsletter Issue 1 Vol 3 2016

FEATURES
04

COMMUNITY WORK WITH

UNDERPRIVILEGED WOMEN AND

CHILDREN ENRICHES LIFE

OF GYNAECOLOGIST

“After one or two years (the Yi children) can sing, write
you letters and greeting cards (in Putonghua)….it’s
really rewarding and satisfying.”

- Dr Mona Lam Wai-cheung

（林慧翔醫生, MBChB 1999）

r Mona Lam had always wanted trying to make her comfortable. She
Dto do community service. Even had never done it before and was
though a busy doctor working in the feeling anxious and embarrassed.”
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G)
departments at Tseung Kwan O After the hug, which took Dr Lam
and United Christian hospitals, she by surprise, she got to thinking
devotes whatever time she has to how something so simple - that
helping underprivileged women, she does routinely in hospital as a
both locally and in mainland China. gynaecologist - could mean so much
to women like the Nepali lady.
Dr Lam first began her charity work
in Ruyuan after someone told her Dr Lam is also heavily involved in
about a trip, organised by the Hong RainLily - an organisation to help
Kong Women Doctors' Association sexually abused women - again
(HKWDA), to the county to do body targetting new immigrants, ethnic
checks on village women. The rest is minorities and domestic helpers.
history. Dr Lam and other Hong Kong medical
“At the very beginning I was their specialists would also train doctors
“Initially, I joined as a participant and hotline volunteer and then I became and nurses in Sichuan and Yunnan
then the HKWDA told me if I was a trainer.” She is now an executive and help in case analyses during their
interested, I can be an organiser.” committee member. Morbidity, Mortality Meeting.

She started as a member, then became Another project - which started her Dr Lam says one of the CUHK lecturers
the vice chairlady of its Community on the road to community service inspired her greatly - Professor Allan
Service Committee and is currently the and one which she holds dear to this Chang, who headed the Prince of
chairlady. day - is helping children of the Yi Wales Hospital’s O&G department at
tribe in Sichuan. one point.
One event Dr Lam does regularly
in Hong Kong is Ripples Action, in In collaboration with an NGO there, “He said obstetrics is the most
collaboration with the International the HKWDA found sponsors for 50 gratifying specialty. However, there will
Social Service (Hong Kong) branch and deserving children to go to school. be extreme sadness when there's an
other professional women groups. unfavourable outcome,” she recalls.
“In the beginning, these children
Here they offer free cervical screening couldn't communicate,” says Dr Lam. “I witnessed what he said when I was
for women from low income families, “I spoke little Putonghua and they a student, and I'm 'experiencing'
new immigrants and ethnic minorities, as only spoke in their tribal language. what he meant as a doctor.”
well as conduct stress tests, via surveys.
“But after one or two years they But that has not stopped Dr Lam. For
Dr Lam recalls how a Nepali woman could speak fluent Putonghua. her efforts in community work, she was
had hugged after her cervical screening. They can sing, write you letters and given the 8th Hong Kong Outstanding
“I wasn’t actually doing the procedure. greeting cards…it’s really rewarding Women Volunteers Award by the HK
I was like a nurse, ushering her in and and satisfying.” YWCA in March last year.