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The Department of Health (DH) today (May 18) held the Health@work.hk Pilot Project Recognition Ceremony cum Sharing Forum to give recognition to 19 participating organisations for their efforts made in developing a healthy workforce.
Addressing the ceremony, the Controller of the DH's Centre for Health Protection, Dr Thomas Tsang, said that the workplace is an ideal setting for promoting health and a base for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The World Health Organization Office of the Western Pacific Region considers the workplace a priority setting for health promotion in the 21st century.
"A healthy workplace promotes a win-win situation for both employers and employees. Having a healthy workforce is essential for a productive and prosperous community. While a healthy and happy workplace can boost staff morale and enhance the sense of belonging and job satisfaction, it can also raise productivity and establish a positive corporate image," Dr Tsang said.
The Health@work.hk Pilot Project was conducted from September 2010 to December 2011 by the DH in accordance with the Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Action Plan to Promote Healthy Diet and Physical Activity Participation in Hong Kong. The pilot project calls on employers and employees to join hands to create a working environment that supports, guides, motivates and encourages everyone to live in better health.
The project identifies the workplace as a key area for the prevention and control of NCDs because the workplace accommodates the highest concentration of adults. For the working population, the workplace is not only where most of the time is spent but also a location that directly influences mental, physical and social well-being to impact on family and the community. As there are more than 3 million people in the workforce, the workplace offers an ideal setting to engage people in healthy lifestyles.
In the first phase of the project, 19 organisations from different sectors with around 2,000 staff members took part. Each participating organisation set up a wellness committee to assess its own organisational and staff health needs and implement health promotion measures in healthy eating, physical activity and smoking cessation. Feedback from participants and their organisations has been positive.
Overseas experience has shown that effective workplace health promotion reduces absenteeism, sickness payments and compensation. The Health@work.hk project will commence its second phase later this year for more organisations to join. The aim is to develop a happy and healthy workforce in a caring and progressive work environment.
Other officiating guests at today's ceremony included the Deputy Commissioner for Labour, Mr David Leung; the Vice Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Council, Dr Alan Chan; the Chairman of the Working Group on Diet and Physical Activity, Professor Alfred Chan; the Chairman of the Working Group on Alcohol and Health and Chairman of the Working Group on Injuries, Mr Patrick Ma; and the Vice President of the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management, Mr David Li.
For more information, please visit the website of the Health@work.hk Pilot Project (www.cheu.gov.hk/healthatwork).
Ends/Friday, May 18, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:30
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