HE’S seen first hand the difference treating ear disease and infection within Aboriginal communities can make – and tonight Newcastle’s Dr Kelvin Kong will be bringing attention to the issue on national television.
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Australia’s first Aboriginal surgeon, Dr Kong will feature on NITV on the show Living Black.
He is passionate about fixing the disparity that exists in indigenous healthcare.
‘‘Every kid should have timely access to healthcare services they need.
‘‘It’s appalling and if you are a mum with a kid who is not hearing well, it can be quite hard to get that access.’’
Dr Kong knows about things being difficult at times.
An ear, nose and throat surgeon, he grew up in Shoal Bay where his mother, an Aboriginal nurse, was seen as the community health specialist.
His father, a Chinese doctor, moved to Malaysia when he was a toddler following his parents’ separation.
Dr Kong now travels to remote and regional communities and said there were many case studies of how an ear check-up could transform a life.
One elderly man had maggots in his ears, he recalls.
‘‘I just thought if I had met this person when they were five years old how much it would have changed his life.’’ That’s because ear health can be a barrier to education and therefore opportunity.
‘‘One of the most beautiful things is when you fix the hearing and [the family] comes back and talks about the difference it has made.’’
Living Black screens on NITV at 8pm Tuesday January 21, and on SBS ONE on Sunday January 25 at 5pm
