Press Releases

Applications for Health Care and Promotion Fund invited

The Food and Health Bureau invites non-profit-making organisations to submit grant applications for the Non-Research Health Promotion Projects and the Seed Funding Scheme under the Health Care and Promotion Fund (HCPF).

Non-Research Health Promotion Projects aim to help people adopt healthier lifestyles by enhancing awareness, changing behaviour and creating an environment that supports good health practices.

The Seed Funding Scheme offers non-recurrent funding to foster the development of innovative, effective and sustainable programmes in the community, in particular those which include evaluation using scientific methods and can generate evidence of their effectiveness, to facilitate mobilisation of local resources through building partnerships among public, private and non-governmental organisations to promote health in the community.

A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (April 24) that priority consideration will be given to applications targeting underprivileged groups vulnerable to ill-health and health promotion programmes carried out in primary care settings.

"To maximise the effects of health promotion interventions and create a supportive and sustainable environment that empowers individuals to take ownership and self-responsibility of their health through multidisciplinary approaches, cross-sectorial collaborations and community engagement are the keys to success," the spokesman said.

In addition, higher funding priorities will be accorded to the following thematic areas:

* Tobacco control
* Lifestyle, nutrition and physical activity
* Mental well-being
* Injury prevention
* Reducing alcohol-related problems
* Promoting family doctor model of care
* Empowering the community in the management of chronic diseases and strengthening preventive care in children and older adults
* Cancer prevention
* Breastfeeding
* Healthy use of Internet and electronic screen products

The closing date for applications is July 31, 2015. All applications will be subject to rigorous review by the HCPF Committee and its Promotion Sub-committee, which comprise healthcare professionals and experts, individuals closely involved in community affairs and government representatives.

Principal applicants must represent a non-profit making organisation, a registered community group or a group formed under a registered non-profit making body. Successful applicants may be awarded full or partial support, normally not exceeding $300,000, on a one-off basis for Non-Research Health Promotion Projects and $500,000 for the Seed Funding Scheme.

Established by the Government in 1995, the purpose of the HCPF is to strengthen health promotion and disease prevention work. To date, over 300 health promotion projects have been supported.

Guidance notes, application forms and details on thematic priorities can be obtained from the website of the Food and Health Bureau's Research Fund Secretariat at rfs.fhb.gov.hk. Enquiries can be faxed to 2102 2444 or e-mailed to rfs@fhb.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, April 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:01

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