WHO's Chan hails the success of health groups

World Health Organization Director-general Margaret Chan (center) takes a look at a salt-control spoon while visiting a family in Changning District yesterday. The spoon is meant to help control a user's salt intake.

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MARGARET Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, said yesterday that Shanghai's self-managed health groups have been a success and will be promoted around the world.

The city has 6,382 self-managed health groups, which offer ways for more than 100,000 residents to learn from one another about basic health knowledge and ways to prevent diseases, officials with Shanghai's health promotion commission said.

Chan visited a resident's home to see how the campaign worked.

"I'm impressed by the ability of government to mobilize the whole community," Chan said. "Shanghai's successful experience will be promoted worldwide."

The first self-managed health group in the city was set up in 2007 to help residents change unhealthy lifestyles.

Now the groups cover 90 percent of neighborhood committees. Participation is voluntary in the groups.

Residents can hear free lectures from Fudan University at their complexes and discuss health care issues.

According to a survey by the commission, 94 percent of group participants exercise regularly. Only 78 percent did so before they joined.

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