Promoting Oral Health of Non-institutionalized Older Adults with a NGO in Hong Kong
Project “Promoting Oral Health of Non-institutionalised Older Adults with A Non-governmental Organisation in Hong Kong” led by Dr Amy Wai Yee Wong, Senior Clinical Practitioner in Cariology won the Faculty KE Awards in 2022.
In Hong Kong, most older adults are non-institutionalised with limited subsidies from the government. As a result, a lot of them could not afford oral health care services. In response to this and to promote the oral health of non-institutionalised older adults, HKU Dentistry has worked with an NGO in Hong Kong, Project Concern to empower our community since 2014. The Faculty and Project Concern dedicated themselves to promoting oral health in 17 districts, providing free dental check-up, pain relieve by emergency tooth extraction, preventive treatment of fluoride application and oral health talks in local community centres and mobile dental vehicle units. In the past decade, over 2000 older adults have benefited from the services.
The team is delighted to receive the KE Award, but what gratified them the most was the knowledge transferred from the Faculty to a local NGO, allowing the latter to apply and get grants from Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Fund during 2014-2022. The grants have been used to promote oral health and provide free dental services to underprivileged groups in Hong Kong.
The project enhances oral health awareness to the public, empowers NGOs to provide related services and benefit those in need. It also engages dental students and volunteers and help them develop a sense of social responsibility and willingness to give back to the community in life.
Dr Amy Wong
