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18 Apr 2017 |
FPAHK offers free bone density tests for elderly women with Community Chest support
The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (FPAHK)will implement a 3-year program titled “Every Bone Counts” from 2017 to 2020 to provide 600 fee-waived dual energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone densitometry tests each year to Hong Kong women residents aged 65 and above who have never had a DXA test nor osteoporosis treatment. An estimated 1,800 elderly women in total will benefit. This program will commence on 8 May2017.
The 3-year program is funded by The Community Chest of Hong Kong as a Time-Limited Project. It aims to raise awareness of the public, particularly elderly women, on bone health and osteoporosis, and to encourage at-risk women who have never had a DXA test to undergo testing to ascertain their bone status, learn about osteoporosis and fall prevention, and if indicated, to receive treatment to prevent bone fractures.
Eligible participants will be seen by a doctor and undergo an osteoporosis assessment at the FPAHK’s Wan Chai Sexual and Reproductive Health Centre. If indicated, a DXA test of the spine and hip will be offered with the fee of $550 fully waived. Test results will be interpreted with advice given by the doctor on the same day. The consultation fee of $200, which is not covered by the project fund, will be borne by the participants.
Women who are diagnosed with osteoporosis and those who are osteopenic with high fracture risk will be advised to undergo suitable drug treatment to prevent osteoporotic fractures. They can attend FPAHK’s clinics for follow-up, with consultation fees, investigations and drug prescriptions charged according to the standard rate at FPAHK.
Registration opens today. Interested eligible women can call the hotline 5173-6313for registration. For information on FPAHK’s services, please visit www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/en.