Govt aims to achieve ‘Healthy Macau’ by 2030
The Health Bureau (SSM) will announce later this month the details of its Macau Healthcare Blueprint, with a view to achieving the goal of “Healthy Macau” by 2030, through the implementation of health-related policies in conjunction with resources from the fields of health, education, culture and sports, Wong Weng Man, chief of the SSM Health Promotion Division, said yesterday.
As a member of the Chinese delegation to the 77th World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, in late May, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U pointed out that the blueprint is characterised by being “based on long-term planning, strengthening top-level design and mobilising the participation of the whole population”, and that the concept of “residents’ health as the centre” will be implemented through the formulation of action strategies and specific health objectives, integrating health elements into all public policies, while combining resources from the fields of health, education, culture, and sports.
Wong said yesterday that the blueprint covers four main areas, namely health risk factors, mental health, major chronic diseases and infectious diseases, aiming to remind the public of the need of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cancer: “Over 80 percent of residents die from chronic diseases…… We advise adult residents to undergo regular screening for the most common chronic diseases in Macau, including hypertension, obesity, and other chronic diseases,” adding that residents aged 18 or above should have their blood pressure checked once a year and have their body weight measured and the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated to see if they are overweight or obese, while residents aged 40 or above are advised to have their blood glucose and blood lipids checked once every three years in order to find out about their health conditions.
According to Wong, with the aim of preventing chronic diseases by working with enterprises to promote healthy eating and exercising among their employees, the bureau launched last year the Healthy Enterprise Programme, in which nearly 100,000 employees from 17 enterprises have so far been participating in the scheme.
Wong made the remarks on the sidelines of yesterday’s opening ceremony of the Macao New Chinese Youth Association’s “Student Health Ambassador Training Programme 2024”, at the Macau Chamber of Commerce’s Ilha Verde Secondary School (澳門中華總商會附設青洲中學) on Avenida do Conselheiro Borja.
The association’s annual programme provides training on health theories and hands-on activities for young people on topics such as mental health, chronic diseases, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and first-aid skills.
Wong Chi Choi, president of the association, told reporters yesterday that over 8,500 “Student Health Ambassadors” have been trained since the programme was launched in 2003, and this year 90 students from 29 secondary schools have been recruited to participate in the programme.
Macao New Chinese Youth Association President Wong Chi Choi (left) and Health Bureau (SSM) Health Promotion Division Chief Wong Weng Man speak to reporters separately on the sidelines of yesterday’s opening ceremony of the “Student Health Ambassador Training Programme 2024”, at Macau Chamber of Commerce’s Ilha Verde Secondary School on Avenida do Conselheiro Borja. – Photo combo: Yuki Lei
