A three-day World Health Organisation technical meeting aimed at finding evidence that health promotion is key in preventing the spread of disease ended in Hong Kong today.

The Director of WHO's Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, Dr Pekka Puska, said the meeting was important for the work of WHO, whose member states had emphasised the need for solid evidence of the effectiveness of health promotion for their policy needs.

"WHO works on combating disease in multiple ways. But from a public health point of view, prevention is the key. Health promotion is usually the most effective approach to promote population health - and it costs only a fraction of the escalating costs of clinical treatment," Dr Puska noted.

Health promotion has emerged globally as an effective framework to address the broad determinants of health and enables individuals and communities to take control over conditions and circumstances that influence their health.

Hong Kong sets positive example in promoting health

Hong Kong has done well in promoting health. The local population in Hong Kong outlives most people in other places. The life expectancy at birth was 78.2 years for men and 84 for women in 2001. Hong Kong also has an infant mortality rate of 2.7 per 1,000 live births, which ranks among the lowest in the world.

However, Deputy Director of Health Dr Regina Ching said that the department's tasks were becoming more and more difficult as it faced increasing challenges from all fronts. To prepare for these challenges, it continuously refined and enhanced its core roles and functions, including health promotion and advocacy. The department would sustain health improvement efforts, enhance their effectiveness, and continue its support for WHO's global efforts.

Participants examine health promotion evidence

The Evidence of Health Promotion Effectiveness Technical Meeting provided an opportunity for participants to share, preview and examine evidence of the effectiveness of health promotion from selected projects through presentations and discussions. Speakers detailed the most recent developments related to the effectiveness of health promotion.

"The meeting helped in developing guidelines for practitioners to plan and evaluate interventions. It also gathered input for WHO's future action in global health-promotion programmes and world conference," Dr Puska added.

Dr Ching said one of the reasons WHO invited Hong Kong to host the meeting was the city's determination to adopt evidence-based health promotion.

"Evidence-based practice is the guiding principle for health promotion action in Hong Kong. The Department of Health vigorously evaluates initiatives and disseminates the findings to other health-promotion practitioners, stakeholders and the public. Close collaboration with international and overseas partners is also maintained."