Jockey Club donates nearly HK$15 Million to enhance primary care across three nations

Nearly HK$15 million was donated by a charitable organization of the Hong Kong Jockey Club to support the development of primary care settings in three countries. 

The HKJC’s Charities Trust and the Institute of Philanthropy, established by HKJC in 2023, co-hosted a regional health and development conference under the theme of “Harnessing Technologies in an Age of AI to Build a Healthier World” in Bangkok from January 28 to February 2.

The week-long conference brought together 18 United Nations agencies and philanthropic foundations to explore technology’s role in improving healthcare access for all.

At a special event on January 31, the Institute announced a three-year pilot project with the World Health Organization to develop an end-to-end non-communicable disease (NCD) control and management protocol in the Philippines, Tonga, and Solomon Islands.

Dylan Lu, co-secretary-general (programmes) of the Institute, said: “This donation clearly showcases our commitment to global health through collaboration with the WHO, together with the US$11.2 million [around HK$87.2 million] funding pledge that the Institute made at the WHO Investment Round in May and October 2024.”

Tran Thi Giang Huong, director of the Division of Programmes for Disease Control from the WHO’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific, said: “The launch of this NCD pilot project aims to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with NCDs in vulnerable countries, while at the same time illustrating an investment case for scaling up the end-to-end NCD control and management model in the whole Western Pacific region.”

(Cheng Wong)