The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Islands District Health Centre (DHC) Express today (December 18), which is operated by the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council (NAAC).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor Chan said, "I have always been actively promoting the development of primary healthcare service in Hong Kong, of which DHCs and DHC Expresses are the key components. Fully funded by the Government, they are operated by non-governmental organisations under a 'district-based, public-private partnership, medical-social collaboration' service model to make the best use of the local network and resources to flexibly promote primary health services that meet community needs.
"The NAAC is experienced in serving the residents of the Islands District over the years. In view of the relatively dispersed population of the Islands District, the DHC Express plans to strengthen its outreach services by providing services based on local needs at different places such as Lamma Island regularly. Moreover, one of the service points of the DHC Express is located at the Tung Chung Masjid Ismail to extend its reach to more ethnic minorities in the district, thus enabling citizens of different races to establish a healthy lifestyle. With the establishment of the Islands DHC Express, I expect the residents in the district will be provided with services that better suit their needs."
In addition to core services, the Islands DHC Express also offers services covering quality sleeping enhancement, weight management, sarcopenia assessment and training. In an endeavour to preventing unnecessary readmission of discharged patients, the Islands DHC Express works closely with the Kowloon West Cluster of the Hospital Authority, especially the North Lantau Hospital, to organise different activities and provide necessary primary healthcare services.
Since its soft launch in mid-October to the end of November, the Islands DHC Express has recruited nearly 200 members. Most of them have completed the health risk factors assessment.
The Islands DHC Express consists of a core centre and nine service points. The core centre is located at Block B, Lot 2536, Ha Ling Pei, Tung Chung, Lantau. The nine service points are set up at the Hong Kong PHAB Association Peng Chau Neighbourhood Elderly cum Children/Youth Centre, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Masjid Ismail, the Tai O Rural Committee, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Tung Chung Integrated Services and the Pok Oi Hospital Chan Shi Sau Memorial Social Service Centre as well as the Tung Chung Integrated Services Centre, Tai O sub-office and Discovery Bay sub-office of the NAAC.　　
For more information on the Islands DHC Express, please visit www.dhc.gov.hk or call the Islands DHC Express hotline at 2556 5338.
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