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Around 3 300 management staff and employees from 18 organisations participating in the Department of Health (DH)'s Health@work.hk Project have joined forces to establish a health-friendly working environment through different types of health promotion activities.
The Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, today (December 16) presented certificates to the participating organisations at the Health@work.hk Project Recognition Ceremony in recognition of their support in promoting a healthy workforce.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr Chan said, "The World Health Organization has established the workplace as a priority setting for health promotion in the 21st century."
She added, "Promoting a healthy lifestyle at the workplace can raise the awareness of the workforce on health. It also plays a significant role in the prevention and control of diseases as well as improvement of the population's health."
Dr Chan said she appreciated the assistance and participation of the Occupational Safety and Health Council in the Project, noting that the DH will continue to work with the Council to promote the Project in the workplace in order to benefit more organisations.
Conducted by the DH in 2010-11 in accordance with the Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases and the Action Plan to Promote Healthy Diet and Physical Activity Participation in Hong Kong, Phase One of the Health@work.hk Pilot Project aimed to urge employers and employees to collaborate in establishing a better and healthier working environment.
Riding on the completion and positive achievements of Phase One, Phase Two was launched in 2012 with an aim of developing a feasible and practical model for a healthy workforce. This phase promoted a combination of organisational policy interventions and supportive environmental measures, as well as lifestyle and personal skills development, to improve staff wellness.
Phase Two of the Project has also completed successfully. Employees from all participating organisations have benefited from various health promotion initiatives. The Project has been well received by the participating organisations and their employees, with feedback indicating that the Project has helped employees raise their health awareness and establish a healthier lifestyle.
Other officiating guests at today's ceremony included the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Leung Ting-hung; the Chairman of the Working Group on Diet and Physical Activity, Professor Alfred Chan; the Vice Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Council, Dr Alan Chan; and the Acting Occupational Health Consultant of the Labour Department, Dr Chik Wai-chi.
For more information about the Health@work.hk Project, please visit the thematic website (www.cheu.gov.hk/healthatwork).
Ends/Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:51
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