$1m for liver programme

THE Hong Kong Liver Foundation will use a $1 million donation from the Jockey Club to run a series of educational programmes to raise awareness of liver disease.

There are plans to hold seminars in schools, stage exhibitions and distribute information leaflets.

About 1,200 people die of liver diseases every year in the territory.

The chairman of the foundation, Simon Lee Kwok-yin, said: 'A significant proportion of these unfortunate cases could be avoided if more people were aware of the problems caused by liver disease and took active steps to promote better health practices.' The Liver Foundation was established last year with the aim of stimulating public interest and providing public education in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases, liver transplants and related problems.

It also aims to update local doctors on the latest developments in the treatment of liver diseases, co-ordinate the efforts of other organisations in the field and promote liver transplantation.

Mr Lee said: 'We hope the donation of livers in Hong Kong for transplant will become as common as the donation of blood in the not-too-distant future.'