Anxiety and fear would set in if one has to go through haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis daily to sustain the functions of an ailing kidney. This was no exception for Police Constable (PC) Lam Lit-fai from Operations Support Sub-unit (Armoury) of Tsing Yi Division.

 

 

Upon being diagnosed with a kidney disease in 2010, PC Lam immediately had a painful recollection of his mother going through peritoneal dialysis daily for the same disease. Soon he accepted this reality and tried to keep his health condition under control by taking medication regularly. He kept this away from his superior and colleagues and got his job done in the Armoury.

 

Unfortunately, the doctor told  PC Lam in 2011 that his disease had reached the terminal stage, but he never grew melancholy and dejected and opted for the haemodialysis treatment. As this twice-a-week treatment might affect his job, he informed his unit commander accordingly. 

 

 

PC Lam’s supervisor immediately arranged early and middle shifts for him after learning of his health condition so that he would receive treatments and take a good rest in the evening. As he had a medical tube inserted near his shoulder on a long-term basis, he was given administrative duties. His colleagues rendered him a lot of care and encouragement for his predicament.

 

Classified as a “Health Impaired Officer (HIO)”, PC Lam received a kidney transplant operation in June 2012. After recuperating for three-and-half months, he returned to work, performing administrative duties until early this year. He was removed from the HIO list after a medical committee’s assessment. “The care and understanding of my supervisor and colleagues were invaluable,” he noted.

 

 

The Commander of PC Lam’s Sub-unit, Senior Inspector (SIP) Yu Sum-yee, commented, “The officers not in good health may not be able to do the daily chores effectively, but they can realise their potential and make contributions to the Force as long as they have a good and proactive attitude.” 

 

PC Lam is a good example of this. After returning to his post, he tried to improve the procedures of collecting accoutrements and designed a form for recording the collection and return of accoutrements in order to boost efficiency.

 

SIP Yu pointed out that the management is doing its best to help officers who can hardly get their jobs done because of health conditions so that they would recover and return to work as soon as possible. Taking health conditions and personal wishes into consideration, the management will work out the best formula for officers to return to work, he added.

 

Training and Staff Relations Officer Kwai Tsing District, Chief Inspector (CIP) Tong Chun-fan, stressed that the management cared about officers’ health conditions and made arrangements for them to realise their potential in a suitable work environment.

 

 

PC Lam is grateful to the management for arranging a suitable post for him, which, he said, enabled him to continue making a contribution to the Force, and offered a big help for his recuperation. He hopes officers would remain proactive and optimistic upon discovering health problems.  

 

Citing PC Lam’s case as an inspiration to officers with health problems, CIP Tong said, “In some stages of life, everyone may need help from other people, but this will only be temporary. Officers should accept reality, remain grateful for assistance, discard their mental burdens and face their situations with a proactive attitude and synergy.”

 

The Force is doing its best to help officers in need and living up to the spirit of “One Force, One Caring Culture”.