The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HJKC) has donated over HK100m (£11.8m/€13.2m/US$12.7m) via its Charities Trust to a new initiative aimed at supporting people in the region suffering with “long Covid”.
Operating in collaboration with a number of non-government organisations, the Jockey Club Long Covid Rehabilitation Programme will offer a range of services, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups in the community.
The HKJC said approximately 40,000 people will benefit from the direct services provided, and 30,000 from a digital self-management app and website that will launch as part of the programme.
The fifth wave of Covid-19 began in Hong Kong in the first quarter of this year, with the most recent official figures showing that more than 1.7 million confirmed cases had been reported in the region.
“Clinical research on Covid-19 continues to advance, where one of the most pressing needs is to help Covid -survivors better manage the effects of long Covid,” HKJC executive director of charities and community, Gabriel Leung, said.
“Adopting a primary care framework, this novel programme aims to lend support to residents of care homes as well as those in the general community, particularly the more vulnerable and disadvantaged. Coverage will be broadened as widely as possible through the deployment of digital support for self-management.
“The Club believes that this programme would help the community overcome the public health challenge of Covid sequelae such that Hong Kong can emerge stronger and better.”
