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Kong: Mix of East and West Source: Sarah
Kagan
Hong Kong is an enthralling mix of East and West, high tech
and traditional, urban and rural. Each time I visit the city
I marvel at the sophistication of their nursing community
– they’ve recently achieved uniform baccalaureate
entry into nursing for example – and the energy of nursing
leadership to drive Hong Kong health care into a place of
cross national leadership in Asia. This visit, with the outbreak
of SARS, I was struck by the important role that nursing in
Hong Kong plays in public health.
Hong Kong is very densely populated – I felt that when
we went sightseeing by looking at the new housing estates.
It made me happy with my own – cheap by Hong Kong standards
– tiny row house but now I know I could easily live
in the 900 square foot Hong Kong apartments! Dense population
means a different understanding of the health of communities
and specific risks each housing estate or enclaves might face,
whether it be Dengue Fever or SARS. Hong Kong is also very
geographically close to mainland China and I was impressed
by how many of my colleagues are doing tremendously important
research, education, and even practice consultation in mainland
China. Next time I visit, Sophia Chan and I plan to visit
China – Shanghai or Beijing perhaps…
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