To help middle-aged people improve their lifestyles to prevent or delay the occurrence of chronic disease, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine), along with four local non-governmental organisations - Christian Family Service Centre, St. James’ Settlement, United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service and Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association - have launched The Jockey Club We WATCH Healthy Lifestyle Project (the “Project”). Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, it is Hong Kong’s first public health initiative to apply lifestyle medicine to combat chronic diseases. The Project will run from 2023 to 2025 and aims to engage over 20,000 individuals in health-risk screening. It will provide health coaching for those who are at greatest risk of chronic disease.
The Jockey Club We WATCH Healthy Lifestyle Project was officially launched in a ceremony at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on 28 November 2023, marking a milestone in its ongoing success. Officiating guests included: Dr Libby Lee (middle), JP, Under Secretary for Health, Health Bureau, The HKSAR Government, Ms Imelda Chan (middle left), Head of Charities (Health Community), The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Professor Samuel Wong (middle right), Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Medicine and Director, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr Libby Lee, Under Secretary for Health of the Health Bureau, remarked at the Project’s launch ceremony, “Development of primary healthcare is one of the most important polices of our Government. Through which, we aim to change the health-seeking behaviour of our citizens when they manage their health. Primary healthcare development triggers off the reform of our healthcare system. I am happy that the We WATCH Healthy Lifestyle Project shares the same vision. Everyone should be responsible for their own health and the healthcare professionals are the guardian angels in their health journey. I look forward to the success of the project and hope all the participants will find their entrusted companions to support each other in building their own healthy life.”
Ms Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Healthy Community) at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “The increase in middle-aged patients in Hong Kong has put heavy pressure on the medical system. In view of this, the Club supported CUHK in launching The Jockey Club We WATCH Healthy Lifestyle project, which adopts a ‘lifestyle medicine’ approach to help middle-aged people improve their living habits and effectively prevent and reduce their risk of chronic diseases. This project will promote close collaboration with the Government and non-profit organisations to strengthen district-based primary medical and health services, thereby improving the quality of life of citizens and building a healthier society for Hong Kong.”
“While Hong Kong people may be unfamiliar with the term ‘lifestyle medicine’, its efficacy has long been clinically recognised, and it is widely adopted around the world due to its significant impact on the prevention of chronic diseases,” said Professor Samuel Wong, Associate Dean (Education) at CU Medicine and Director of The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care. “We understand that Hong Kong people are hard-working but have no time to take care of their health. An increasingly rapid pace of life is one of the major factors that affect one’s health, so we hope to promote healthy habits in people’s daily lives to minimise the risk of chronic diseases and alleviate the burden on the public healthcare system in the long run.”
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Dr Libby Lee | Ms Imelda Chan | Prof Samuel Wong |
For more details: Faculty of Medicine, CUHK - http://bit.ly/3N0KwtO
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About The Jockey Club We WATCH Healthy Lifestyle Project
A key element of The Jockey Club We WATCH Healthy Lifestyle Project is the personalised advice provided by health coaches. They are required to complete a training course provided by CU Medicine’s The School of Public Health and Primary Care, and pass an assessment to ensure that they possess the professional knowledge and skills needed to provide healthcare and personalised coaching. Health coaches design tailored activities and provide personalised support for each participant, considering their interests, needs and time constraints, and prioritising their most pressing issues. Participants continuously communicate with coaches to identify ways to make effective behavioural changes in their lives. 18 health coaches have completed the training and provided health coaching to nearly 1,670 people.
For more information, please visit: https://www.jc-wewatch.org.hk/
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