Medical camp attracts high school students

Students visit the operating room and do pre-operation hand-washing exercises. Courtesy of HKU-SZH

A total of 90 high school students from home and abroad participated in the medical camp organized by the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) and Hong Kong University Summer Institute from July 8 to Aug. 10, immersing themselves in the challenging complexities of the medical profession.

Students were arranged to visit the hospital’s emergency and outpatient departments, operating rooms and various specialized departments, observe the use of medical equipment, communicate with doctors, nurses and patients face to face, and visit the University of Hong Kong.

According to HKU-SZH, there was a themed activity for the students every day, such as “the experience of seeing a doctor,” “a day of a doctor,” “the beginning and end of life” and “the mystery of the human body.”

A student surnamed Wu, a 10th grader at Shenzhen Senior High School, attended the program. “The dispensing machine at the hospital’s pharmacy made me feel the power of technology. The visits to the oncology and gynecology departments also left an imprint on my mind,” Wu was quoted as saying.

Wu said that although she might not be a medical practitioner in the future, the experience taught her to face death squarely and cherish life.

The camp also attracted 24 students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Lam Chi-fung, a student from Macao, is expected to attend the Faculty of Medicine at Macao University of Science and Technology this fall.

According to Lam, it was an eye-opening experience for him, because he saw many hospital facilities and operation modes at HKU-SZH, which he would not normally have an opportunity to see.

Shang Yun, an 11th grader at a high school in the United Kingdom, said the trip was a fantastic mix of activities for students — fun, interesting and educational.

“Most importantly, we got to experience, to learn more knowledge and feel the new technologies of modern medicines and to be thankful for our life,” Shang wrote to the hospital.

Lo Chung-mau, president of HKU-SZH, said the camp aimed to give teenagers an opportunity to experience the work of medical staff, encourage more aspiring young people to work in the medical field and promote exchanges among the youth in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

This was the first medical camp organized by the hospital, and it will be held again next year, according to HKU-SZH.

The camp is open to middle school students over 16 years of age from both home and abroad, and a number of students from financially challenged families will be granted entry to the program free of charge.