Hong Kong students use tech to revolutionize healthcare in developing world

Hong Kong students are leveraging technology to address healthcare challenges in underserved regions, including remote villages in Sri Lanka, through innovative telemedicine platforms and interactive games.

The initiatives are part of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Student Innovation for Global Health Technology (SIGHT) program, supported by the Seal of Love Charitable Foundation.

Since its launch in 2014, SIGHT has engaged over 500 students in more than 30 healthcare projects across developing nations, including India, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

This summer, HKUST students embarked on fieldwork in Sri Lanka to implement practical solutions.

Telemedicine system brings healthcare to remote Sri Lankan villages

Wesley Chan, a first-year biochemistry and cell biology student, joined an interdisciplinary team in developing a telemedicine system, which enables video consultations between doctors and patients, digitizes medical records, and streamlines prescription management for the remote Haputale region.

Chan noted that Haputale villagers face significant barriers to healthcare, often trekking an hour to a bus stop and enduring another hour-long ride to reach the nearest clinic.

Chronic patients, in particular, struggle with follow-up care due to transportation difficulties.

Partnering with a local NGO, Chan’s team trained healthcare workers and volunteers to use the system, despite limited internet infrastructure.

Chan said students also purchased tools and helped install wiring to stabilize the network when connectivity issues arose. The project now serves over 100 families.

“This experience sparked my interest in coding and data science,” Chan said, noting potential career paths in the field.

Interactive games promote water hygiene in Sri Lankan communities

Meanwhile, Natalie Ho, a second-year civil and environmental engineering student, focused on water hygiene education in Pallewela.

Her team discovered that over half of the villagers consumed unboiled water, exposing them to harmful bacteria like E. coli.

To address this, they designed engaging activities for children, including a hygiene-themed card game inspired by a traditional Hong Kong pastime, a microscope workshop comparing boiled and unboiled water samples, and a herbal tea campaign promoting safe drinking habits.

Despite language barriers, the team interacted with 100 students and left educational materials for long-term impact.

“This project deepened my understanding of water issues in other regions,” Ho said, noting that conservation awareness is crucial even in water-secure cities like Hong Kong.

SIGHT expands global reach through education, competitions

SIGHT director Chau Ying, also a professor in the chemical and biological engineering department, said two SIGHT courses are now part of HKUST’s Common Core Program.

SIGHT is also collaborating with Philos Health on the Design for Global Health Competition, inviting Asia-Pacific students to tackle chronic disease and dental care challenges in the Philippines.

“Over the next five years, we aim to scale these solutions to more developing countries,” Chau said, noting that the program will also work on monitoring the long-term effects by big data analysis.

(Ayra Wang)