Wu Bingqiang, a manager of the medical department of the Hong Kong
Red Cross (HKRC) who is responsible for the "Campaign for Helping
the Vulnerable and Needy to Prevent Atypical Pneumonia," has not
been so busy for a long time.
As
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) continues to threaten Hong
Kong, the cases have created certain anxiety and worries among the
residents. To aid those who need help, the Hong Kong Red Cross has
launched various programs in this special moment.
Wu
said HKRC right now has a mission to mobilize the power of humanity
and build a caring community.
Since early April, HKRC has been appealing to the public for
support. Through the donations from the public, some 100,000 SARS
prevention hygiene kits have been packed with the help of several
hundreds of volunteers.
"Each packet contains facemasks, alcohol pads, sterilizing tablets
and tailor-made SARS prevention guidelines and encouraging message,
which are basic necessities," Wu said.
Organized by HKRC, volunteers participated on April 13 and 19 in
the hygiene kits distribution and helped teach the elderly people
how to prevent SARS and how to use the hygiene kits correctly.
"Wherever the volunteers arrived, residents were eager for
information and suggestion, and we felt ourselves very much
needed," Wu said.
Apart from distributing hygiene kits, HKRC also initiated a
"Heart-to-Heart Card Campaign" to give SARS prevention tips to the
general public and, at the same, encourage them to show
appreciation for the medical personnel or inspiritment to SARS
patients.
Moreover, a special web page for youth has been created to provide
related news digest, and to encourage the younger generation to
follow the SARS prevention health guidelines and to help spread
such health knowledge.
HKRC, also providing great aid to mainland disaster areas these
years, is now appealing for more support against SARS. Wu said they
plan to raise HK$2 million (US$260,000 million) worth of hygiene
kits to supply for the community.
"It's not a disaster, but Hong Kong residents are facing the threat
and we must act," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2003)