Health 171
Public Hospital Development Programmes
Projects in the hospital development programme progressed satisfactorily. Ongoing projects included the redevelopment and expansion of Pok Oi Hospital, the redevelopment of Staff Quarters at Tuen Mun Hospital into a Rehabilitation Block, the construction of a new infectious disease centre attached to Princess Margaret Hospital, the provision of additional lifts and associated works at Block S of United Christian Hospital, the improvement of infection control provision for autopsy facilities in public hospitals, and the improvement of facilities in the Specialist Out- patient Block of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.
Health Promotion
Healthy Lifestyle
In the financial year 2005-06, the Department of Health spent $212.2 million on health promotion initiatives. Among all key health promoters, the Central Health Education Unit of the Department of Health continues to play a leading role in formulating the direction of, and providing resources for, public health education. The unit comprises professionals from different disciplines to facilitate health promotion in a knowledge-based, need-driven and effective manner.
This year, the unit focused on a variety of health promotion activities that involved all levels of the community. The promotion included the 'Exercise Prescription Project' to promote physical
promote physical activities; the '[email protected]' campaign to promote healthy eating among primary school students; health education and promotion activities related to influenza, avian influenza and influenza pandemic preparedness; and the campaign 'Wash Hands for Better Health' to raise public awareness on hand hygiene. Major studies like 'Baseline Assessment of Promoting Healthy Eating in Primary Schools', 'Health Needs Assessment Study for the Community Development Project for the Ethnic Minority Groups' and 'The Food, Personal and Environmental Hygiene Survey' were also carried out in 2006.
Considerable efforts have been made in promoting the psychosocial health in secondary school as well. A total of 346 secondary schools with around 122 000 students and 7 000 parents and teachers enrolled and received services under the Adolescent Health Programme organised by the Department of Health in the school year 2005-06.
Oral Health Education
Educational and promotional activities were organised throughout the year by the Oral Health Education Unit of the Department of Health to enhance the community's general level of oral health awareness. These activities included outreach programmes delivered through the 'Oral Health Education Bus', and target-specific programmes delivered through kindergartens and pre-school centres to over 100 000 pre-schoolers every year. Information on oral health is disseminated to the public by means of the oral health education homepage, www.toothclub.gov.hk, and the 24-hour interactive oral health education telephone hotline.