The collaboration will strengthen the Union School's curriculum in public health law, health economics, health care systems and reform, smoking control, environmental health, oral hygiene and nutrition. "These areas are essential for training today's Chinese public health professionals," said Professor Chen Chunming, dean of Union School of Public Health, Peking Union Medical College.
In a meeting today with Professor Chunming in China, Procter & Gamble's chairman and chief executive John E. Pepper said: "We are pleased to support this important public health training program in China. Union School was founded to strengthen public health practice and training throughout China through a unique approach of bringing the resources of business, government and educators together. Expanding these programs will help advance China's public health efforts and improve the lives of Chinese people." Pepper also is a member of the Yale Corporation, which is the Yale governing board.
Michael Merson, dean of Public Health at Yale and director of the China collaboration, said: "Fundamental political and economic changes are presenting China with not only many health risks associated with developing nations -- such as infectious and parasitic diseases -- but also rising rates of diseases associated with lifestyle changes, including cancer, heart disease, and sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS. In addition, 70 percent of adult men in China smoke, creating a huge need for anti-smoking campaigns organized by public health workers."
Merson also cited health risks related t
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Contact: Cynthia Atwood
cynthia.atwood@yale.edu
203-432-1326
Yale University
14-Apr-1998