P R E S S   R E L E A S E

        Until recently, most research efforts in women's health have focused on reproductive health. With one-third of women's life spent in postmenopausal years, increasing research effort is now shifted to the health effects of hormonal changes, and common conditions such as heart disease, cancer (particularly breast cancer), osteoporosis, disability, causes of death, and impaired quality of life in older women.

        Women comprise approximately 50% of the population of Hong Kong, and at least 60% of the geriatric population (aged 75 and above). Over their lifespan, women suffer more ill-health than their male counterparts, and thus utilize the health care system more extensively.  In addition, women serve more frequently as health care providers and health informants for their family members. They are also often the targets of domestic violence with little known about the magnitude and causes.  Thus research and education relating to women health are pertinent to the society at large, with a purpose to integrate relevant and practical knowledge into clinical and health care practices.

        With the aim of meeting the multi-faceted health needs of women, the Centre of Research and Promotion of Women's Health (CRPWH) of the School of Public Health, CUHK was inaugurated in January this year. The multidisciplinary CRPWH aims to improve the health of women by developing, coordinating and conducting research, educational, and promotional activities, drawing contributing members from a wide range of disciplines in medical field

        With a generous donation from Dr Annie Wong of the Hong Kong Federation of Women, the CRPWH is now able to set up the Resource Centre for Women's Health, which will be housed within the CRPWH in the School of Public Health.   The opening ceremony of the Resource Centre, sponsored jointly by the CRPWH and the Hong Kong Federation of Women was held today.  Officiating guests include Dr. Margaret Chan, Director of Health, Dr. Annie Wong, Professor Liu Pak Wai, Acting Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, Mrs Peggy Lam, Chairperson of the Hong Kong Federation of Women, Ms Lina Yan, Chairman of the Convocation of CUHK and Professor Fok Tai Fai, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, CUHK.  The Resource Centre serves as an informational forum for academics, medical and allied health workers, administrators, students, and the interested general public alike on a wide range of topics relating to the health and well-being of women.

        The CRPWH will present its first scientific symposium, entitled "Research in Women's Health - from Knowledge to Practice" on Sunday, 21 October.  It will feature panels highlighting major recent research endeavour in the field.  Presentations will range in scope from discussions of research methodology and findings to suggestions for practical clinical and personal application. Topics include reproductive health and postnatal depression, changing scenes in female cancers and screening practices for these cancers, weight management, the physical and economic consequences of smoking, mental health in different women subpopulations in Hong Kong, and the costs and benefits of intervention programmes such as the prevention of violence against women.

        The symposium will also feature a keynote address on "Enhancing evidence-based policy and services in women's health", given by Professor Jennifer L. Kelsey of the Department of Health Research and Policy at Stanford University in California, USA.  This talk will examine the data on current, cutting-edge treatments for symptoms and diseases facing postmenopausal women, and will suggest implications of these cases for the study of women's health at large.  Mrs. Sophie Leung, Chairperson of the Women's Commission, and Professor Rance Lee, Head of Chung Chi College, CUHK will officiate at the opening of the symposium. On-site registration will be accepted for the symposium.

        Both the opening ceremony and the symposium take place at Kai Chong Tong, G/F, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital.