The University of Macau (UM) is organizing the Healthy University Week from 27 to 31 October to promote the idea of “Healthy University” throughout the campus. The launch ceremony has already been held at noon yesterday (27th).

The launch ceremony was officiated by Dr. Daniel Chi-Wai Tse, Chair of the University Council of UM, Prof. Rui Martins, Acting Rector of UM, Dr. Alex Iat-Long Lai, Vice Rector and Chairman of the Campus Improvement and Sustainability Workgroup of UM, Mr. Steve Shui-Cheung Man, Director of the Administration and Human Resources Office and Leader of the Health and Safety Team of UM, Mr. Gordon Kit-Io Song, Director of the Campus Management Office and Leader of the Environmental Protection Team of UM, Mr. Issac Weng-Io Tong, Director-General of the Board of Directors of the UM Students’ Union, and Dr. Xuming Zhang, Director of Kiang Wu Hospital, Mr. Ka-Wai Leong, Representative of the Health Bureau, Mr. Sai-Heng Wong, Representative of the Environment Council and Mr. Kin-Man Lei, Representative of the Computing Age.

Acting Rector Prof. Rui Martins noted that UM, as a member of the Asia-Pacific Network on Healthy Universities, has been actively promoting the ideas of “Healthy University” and “Green Campus”, endeavouring to work for environmental protection. In the year that just passed, UM launched a series of promotions relating to quality and environmental management, of which remarkable results have already been seen. In May this year, UM has even successfully obtained the ISO 14000 Certification, becoming the first higher education institution in Macao having achieved the standards of both ISO 9000 Quality Management System and ISO 14000 Environmental Management System. Prof. Martins further noted that this year is the second year UM organizes the Healthy University Week. He hoped that, through the series of activities, the staff and students of the University could be reminded of the importance of environmental protection and health, contributing to the global environmental protection force.

The launch ceremony was initiated with a stair-walking activity to promote the advantages of more exercises, and followed by student performances and the award presentations of several competitions relating to environmental protection and health care: “Pot Planting Competition”, “Energy-Saving Competition”, “Recycling Bag Design Competition”, and “Healthy Staff Competition”. All the participants were given souvenirs sponsored by the Health Bureau and the Environment Council to promote green diet and strengthen the consciousness of cherishing earth resources. In addition, Kiang Wu Hospital is providing free medical tests for UM staff as a reminder of the importance of health care while Computing Age has sponsored the awards for the “Healthy Staff Competition”. After the ceremony, a lunch buffet was arranged for the guests, the staff and the students to taste the healthy food and drinks sponsored by the three canteens of the University and Coca Cola.

In this week, UM is organizing a series of activities, including a Green Pledge Signing Scheme, an Influenza Vaccine Injection Scheme for Staff and Family Members, free medical tests for the staff, a lecture on healthy diet, a debate competition on environmental protection, an Environmental Protection Knowledge Quiz Contest, a Recycling Bag Design Competition, board exhibitions on healthy life and UM’s energy saving facilities and eco-friendly measures, a “Gym Use for Free hours and Well-rounded Fitness Training” Programme, a “No Plastic Bags, No Disposable Lunch Box, No Straw Week” and so on.

Caption: Guests officiated the launch ceremony of UM’s Healthy University Week