Disaster Management and Emergency Medicine in the Asia-Pacific Region: Current Practices and Future Directions

Kenneth N. K. FONG · Ben Y. F. FONG

Jul 2023 · City University of HK Press

About this ebook

Around the world, people and societies are at risk of being affected by disasters, both natural and man-made. In the face of climate change and human activity, the threat posed by unexpected disasters is likely to increase in future. This book, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, offers insights from experts in healthcare and higher education both locally and further afield. Some of the authors have first-hand experience with various elements of disaster management through such events as the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, the COVID-19 pandemic, and large-scale competitions including the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.

Key learnings and recommendations are presented in three sections: disaster management and reconstruction, including what we can learn from past earthquakes; the importance of healthcare and emergency medicine in disasters and community events; and the way forward, in particular how technology and systems thinking can be used for disaster mitigation. By shedding light onto future work in disaster management and emergency medicine in Hong Kong and East Asia, this book aims to contribute to community resilience in the region and beyond. It will be useful for tertiary and postgraduate programmes, teachers and academics, practitioners, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community leaders. 

About the author

Kenneth N. K. FONG is a Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Currently he is the coordinator of the assistive technology laboratory in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, management committee member of the Research Institute in Artificial Intelligence of Things, chairman of the University Ethics Committee, member of the Senate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Editor-in-Chief, Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy. He is a registered occupational therapist in Hong Kong, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He has received the individual and team teaching awards from the department and the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. In the last 10 years, he has received competitive public research grants as chief investigator, among them, the Research Impact Fund, General Research Fund, Hospital and Medical Research Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund—Midstream Programme for the Universities, Beat Drugs Fund, etc. from the Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee, and the government, in order to develop innovative technology and rehabilitation intervention for people with disabilities. He serves as an honorary advisor of several non-government and self-help organisations for people with chronic diseases and disabilities in Hong Kong.

Ben Y. F. FONG is a specialist in community medicine, holding Honorary Clinical Associate Professorship at the two local medical schools in Hong Kong. He is currently the Professor of Practice (Health Studies), Associate Division Head and Director of the Centre for Ageing and Healthcare Management Research of the College of Professional and Continuing Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and President of the Hong Kong College of Community Health Practitioners. He was formerly Senior Assistant Commissioner (Medical) of the Auxiliary Medical Service, former President of the Hong Kong Disaster Medicine Association, and former Medical Director of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.