In order to enable students to understand the importance of having a healthy life and the dangers of substance abuse, an internationally recognized healthy life education and substance abuse prevention programme for primary school children has been implemented by the Social Welfare Bureau during the last few years. Related programme attracted the participation of 90 percent of primary schools in Macau with an annual attendance of nearly 20,000 on average.

Based on the idea that prevention is better than cure, the Macau SAR Government plays an active role regarding substance abuse prevention and treatment. Related development on prevention education and other substantial measures have been mentioned in the Policy Address during the past few years, demonstrating the concern of the government for such education. The implementation of the Healthy Life Education Programme and the establishment of the Healthy Life Education Center was a step further of popularization and promotion for substance abuse prevention work.

The Healthy Life Education Center of the Department for Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependence focuses on the elementary education implement the internationalized Healthy Life Education Programme in September 2000, targeting kindergarden children aged five in grade 3 to children of twelve at primary six. The programme is designed with a progressive approach which adapts to the different stages of children’s growth, with different topics for different grades. Subjects include body knowledge, food nutrition, substance knowledge and social communication skills. With an interactive teaching method combining modern technology of an audio-visual equipment, a human body mannequin with lighting and a talking brain, etc. Providing a relaxing and happy environment for students, enabling students to understand the benefits of a healthy life and the dangers of substance abuse, is a way to help them to build up a positive and healthy life style, to stay away from drugs; therefore to achieve the goal of substance abuse prevention. The majority of participating students agreed that the highly interactive programme and the relaxing atmosphere made it easier for the understanding and acceptance of the substance abuse prevention message. Furthermore, teachers agreed that the programme strengthens the knowledge taught at schools and at the same time to complete the lack of knowledge that teachers may have in this area. In addition, the healthy image of Harold, the mascot of the Healthy Life Education Center, is impressed deeply into students’ minds.

At present, the healthy life education programme is available in Chinese, English and special classes. According to statistic, from 2000 to 2011, 78 schools participated in the programme, covering 90 percent of the overall primary schools in Macau, and with an annual participation of nearly 20,000. In the future, the Social Welfare Bureau will strengthen on the promotion of the healthy life education programme to schools, and the related course is free of charge. Schools which are interested in the programme, please call 2822 5778 for further information.