The Islands Healthcare Complex – Macao Medical Centre of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), colloquially known as “Macao Union Medical Centre”, announced in a statement last week that it recently conducted a public health lecture to raise awareness of gastrointestinal* health and shingles prevention.
According to the statement, the lecture featured two sessions led by specialists from the gastroenterology and dermatology departments of the medical centre.
In the first session, Dr Tan Bei, a gastroenterology** expert from PUMCH, spoke on key information about Helicobacter pylori***, including its common symptoms, transmission routes and treatment methods, the statement said.
The statement noted that the second session was presented by Dr Su Fei, an attending physician in dermatology, who focused on shingles, and outlined the condition’s causes, risk factors and typical symptoms, while addressing common misconceptions.
Shingles is a painful, blistering rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
Dr Su also advised residents – particularly those aged 50 and above – to take proactive measures to well manage their health and reduce the potential impact of shingles, the statement underlined.
During the question-and-answer session, participants raised questions about their own health conditions and those of their family members, while some attendees also sought clarification on common medical myths, the statement noted.
One participant said the lecture helped him gain a better understanding of warning signs in the body that he had previously overlooked, adding that the lecture encouraged him to take a more proactive approach to health management. According to the statement, the lecture aligned with the local government’s policy of improving healthcare services and prioritising disease prevention.
The statement added that the centre plans to continue organising health lectures on different topics to enhance residents’ health literacy and awareness of chronic disease management.
* Gastrointestinal (or GI) refers to the system in your body responsible for digestion, which includes your stomach and intestines. It is the long pathway that food travels through from your mouth to your anus. – DeepSeek
** Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine focused on the digestive system and its disorders, encompassing the organs from the mouth to the anus along the gastrointestinal tract. Physicians in this field, known as gastroenterologists, diagnose and treat conditions such as acid reflux, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and hepatitis, often performing specialised procedures like endoscopies to examine the digestive tract. – DeepSeek
*** Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that infects the stomach, often leading to irritation, inflammation, and ulcers in the stomach lining. While it is very common and often causes no symptoms, it is a primary cause of digestive issues and is treated with antibiotics to reduce the risk of more serious problems like stomach cancer. – DeepSeek
This undated handout photo provided by the Macao Union Medical Centre (PUMCH) last week shows a doctor conducting a public lecture on gastrointestinal health at the facility in Cotai.
