Heroic doctor's life a model for students
Sars medic Tse Yuen-man's story is providing inspiration and education
Schools in Hong Kong are using a memorial booklet telling the story of Sars-fighting doctor Joanna Tse Yuen-man to motivate and inspire students.
Tse, the first public hospital doctor to die from the disease, was one of the first to volunteer to work in a Sars ward in Tuen Mun Hospital. She was infected while trying to resuscitate a Sars patient, and died on May 13.
A spokeswoman for Tse's family said: 'Her story is about not giving up easily, and about loving people no matter what their status in life. Unlike historical role models, Tse was an ordinary person of today's Hong Kong.'
Irene Lo Oi-lan, principal of Oi Kwan Road Baptist Church Liu Kwok Pat Fong Kindergarten in Wan Chai, agreed. She said: 'Dr Tse had a very positive attitude to life. She is a real-life example and testament to how to sacrifice oneself to save others.
'Her background and upbringing were very similar to the general public's, so I think it will be easier to educate the children [with her story].'
The memorial booklet, detailing Tse's life story and including tributes to her, was produced 10 days ago by a Christian group to which she belonged, the Praise Assembly. All 50,000 copies have been given away already, and more than 200,000 copies of an expanded edition will be distributed next week to schools and hospitals.
This expanded version covers Tse's funeral and includes information about her doctor husband Albert Chan, who died of leukaemia last year. The family's spokeswoman, Jennifer Tse Hsioa-ching, said: 'All the first-edition copies have gone and we have had at least 20,000 more requests. We have received requests from Chinese in Australia, Brazil and Vancouver for copies of the memorial booklet.'
Wan Chai kindergarten principal Ms Lo said the school had ordered 300 copies of the booklet to distribute to parents. 'We want to spread the message to parents so they can teach their children. Our teachers will also tell the children in morning assemblies how Dr Tse saved others by sacrificing herself.'
Watt Wong Bik-yin, principal of Methodist School in Yau Ma Tei, has requested 1,000 booklets to distribute to the primary school's students and their parents. Ms Wong said: 'We want to use Tse's example to motivate students to be positive and enthusiastic. A person's value is not measured by lifespan but how he or she uses their life to help others and contribute to society. This is the greatest honour on earth.
'Students find it easier to relate to Tse because she was Hong Kong-born and this event is current.'
The Methodist School's teachers have already told students about Tse's story in moral and religious classes and assemblies.
An association of Christian hospital chaplaincies has asked for 5,000 copies to give to nurses and patients.
The Praise Assembly is also creating a website to tell Tse's story in English.
The Education and Manpower Bureau said it was up to individual schools whether they featured Tse's life in class teaching.
