Bayer-Supported 'Xinmin Health Lecture Series Enters Communities' Officially Launched in Shanghai

Shanghai, September 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The launch ceremony of the "Xinmin Health Lecture Series into Communities" and its inaugural popular science lecture were held at the Shanggang Community Health Service Center in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. The event was hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau, and Xinmin Evening News Agency, co-organized by the Shanghai Health Promotion Center, and supported by Bayer China, Xinmin Network, and Huashi Pharmacy. Attendees included Mr. Wang Tong, Director of the Health Promotion Division of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and Deputy Director of the Office of the Shanghai Health Promotion Committee; Professor Li Yigang from Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Chairman of the Shanghai Atrial Fibrillation Center Alliance; Professor Yang Bing from Dongfang Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University; Dr. Du Zhaohui, Director of the Shanggang Community Health Service Center; Ms. Zhang Lei, Vice President of Communications at Bayer China; and more than 70 community residents. With a 25-year presence in China, Bayer has long been committed to public health education through multi-party collaborations and diverse formats. This series represents another significant initiative by Bayer to support the construction of "Healthy China" and "Healthy Shanghai."

Popular Science Education First, Solidify“Healthy Shanghai”Basics

The health of the people is an important indicator of national prosperity and strength. Since the launch of the “Healthy China” strategy, the central government and numerous local governments have issued a series of outline plans and guidance documents, all of which place health science popularization and education in a strategic position. The State Council’s “Opinions on Implementing the Healthy China Action” lists the “Health Knowledge Popularization Action” as the first among 15 key actions; the “Basic Healthcare and Health Promotion Law” elevates “public welfare publicity of health knowledge” to the level of legal regulation; and the “‘Healthy Shanghai 2030’ Outline Plan” points out that a working mechanism for whole-society participation in health promotion and education should be established, giving full play to the important roles of medical and health institutions, academic societies, medical personnel, and media in health science popularization. Health science popularization and education has become a crucial link in promoting the development of public health in China and laying a solid foundation for improving the health literacy and levels of the entire population.

As part of the newly launched “Xinmin Health Lecture Hall: Community Outreach Series,” Bayer will leverage its strengths in healthcare and agriculture to support the Xinmin Health Lecture Hall, a Shanghai-based health science popularization cultural base, in hosting seven community-focused health education seminars across Shanghai. The initiative will integrate resources from multiple stakeholders and invite renowned experts to deliver lectures on topics closely related to daily life, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, maternal and child health, digestive health, and household pest control. In addition to these informative sessions, residents will have the opportunity to engage in interactive Q&A segments to address their most pressing health concerns. Furthermore, the events will be live-streamed simultaneously via the Xinmin Evening News app and official website, with event previews disseminated through Bayer China’s official WeChat account and nearly 300 chain stores operated by Shanghai Huashi Pharmacy Co., Ltd., aiming to reach a broader audience and enhance the impact and effectiveness of health science education.

At the launch ceremony, Director Wang Tong delivered remarks on behalf of the event organizer and expressed gratitude to Bayer China, Shanghai Huashi Pharmacy Co., Ltd., and the Shanggang Community Health Service Center for their support. Director Wang pointed out that building a “Healthy China” is a significant and long-term responsibility for government authorities and news media. Based on this consensus, at this critical juncture in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic during the autumn and winter seasons, it is particularly essential to take proactive measures, jointly prevent and control chronic diseases that threaten human health, and enhance citizens’ health literacy. The “Building a ‘Healthy Shanghai’: Xinmin Health Lecture Series in Communities” will reach deep into communities over a three-month period. In conjunction with the Xuexi Qiangguo platform and the Xinmin Network live-streaming platform, seven hybrid online-and-offline health science popularization lectures will be held, offering citizens a rich feast of health knowledge and fostering a social atmosphere that embraces, pursues, and promotes health.

Professor Li Yigang is an active practitioner of the tiered diagnosis and treatment policy and the comprehensive, single-disease management model for atrial fibrillation (AF). He spearheaded the establishment of the Shanghai Atrial Fibrillation Center Alliance, the first of its kind in China, dedicated to reducing the incidence of AF-related stroke in the Shanghai region through regional collaboration. At the conference, he stated, “Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are common and frequently occurring conditions in Shanghai. Controlling these diseases is a critical battle in building a ‘Healthy Shanghai,’ requiring joint efforts from the government, healthcare system, enterprises, media, and the public. In response to the national tiered diagnosis and treatment policy for atrial fibrillation—one of the major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases—we have implemented the construction of AF centers at the community level, expanded the scope of AF patient management, and fully leveraged the role of the regional alliance in ‘setting exemplary precedents and fostering vertical integration.’ Hospitals at different levels within the alliance are working together around the core principles of ‘homogeneous, standardized, and efficient’ diagnosis and treatment of AF, aiming to reduce the incidence of complications such as stroke and improve the quality of life for AF patients.”

Furthermore, regarding the inaugural science popularization lecture of the “Xinmin Health Lecture Series in Communities” event, held at the Shanggang Community Health Service Center, Director Du Zhaohui expressed his delight, stating, “As a community hospital that has been developing in Pudong New Area for over 20 years and deeply committed to serving the health of local residents, we are very pleased to host this event. Bringing professional, authoritative, yet accessible health knowledge to residents, thereby helping to improve their health literacy and treatment outcomes, is a shared aspiration of the hospital, the residents, and the government. We look forward to seeing more valuable and meaningful health education activities like this one implemented in the future.”

“We are honored to support the ‘Xinmin Health Lecture Series in Communities’ initiative, bringing a wealth of health knowledge to residents,” said Ms. Zhang Lei from Bayer China. “With deep roots in China for many years, Bayer has always developed in step with the country’s healthcare and life sciences sectors. Upholding our corporate vision of ‘Health for all, Hunger for none,’ Bayer is committed to working alongside the Chinese public, healthcare professionals, government bodies, and communities to contribute our share toward building a ‘Healthy China’ and a ‘Healthy Shanghai.’”

The Heart is the Site of Onset, the Brain is the Site of Injury: How Much Do You Know About Atrial Fibrillation?

The inaugural health lecture of the series—“Atrial Fibrillation: Originating in the Heart, Damaging the Brain”—was also held concurrently. Professor Yang Bing from Shanghai East Hospital affiliated with Tongji University and Director Du Zhaohui from the Shanggang Community Health Service Center explained to the public the causes, symptoms, and treatment of atrial fibrillation. The lecture aimed to enhance public awareness of atrial fibrillation, strengthen individuals’ attention to their own and their families’ health, and help reduce the incidence of stroke caused by atrial fibrillation.

Professor Yang Bing stated in his response: “In community atrial fibrillation (AF) clinics, we have identified three common misconceptions among the general public regarding AF. First is lack of awareness, as AF can sometimes be asymptomatic and ‘silent,’ often being detected only during routine health examinations. This necessitates that medical institutions, including community health centers, expand screening efforts to identify affected individuals. Second is underestimation of the condition; many patients believe that AF is not a serious matter. However, AF is associated with a high incidence of stroke, severe consequences, and poor prognosis. Addressing this requires concerted societal efforts to broaden health education and help patients and their families recognize the seriousness of the condition. Third is non-adherence to anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention. In this regard, community health service centers play a vital role in patient management. Within the framework of AF center construction, it is essential to actively improve the informatized management of AF patients, thereby enhancing comprehensive management capabilities through systemic improvements and leveraging the role of community health service institutions.”

For many years, Bayer has actively collaborated with various stakeholders, leveraging diverse platforms and formats to disseminate knowledge and concepts related to chronic disease management and self-care to the public. In March this year, Bayer was jointly invited by the Shanghai Patriotic Health Campaign Committee and the Shanghai Health Promotion Committee to co-launch the initiative “Shouldering Social Responsibility Together to Build a Healthy Shanghai.” Bayer was the only foreign life sciences company among the 12 participating enterprises. In June this year, Bayer was also honored with the “Cloud Oriental Health Pioneer” Shanghai Science Popularization Public Welfare Project Award, presented by the Shanghai Medical Association and its Cardiovascular Disease Branch. Looking ahead, Bayer will remain true to its original mission, uphold its corporate social responsibility, leverage its expertise in the life sciences sector, and join forces with all parties to conduct public health science education, help improve the health literacy and well-being of the Chinese people, and further contribute to the building of a “Healthy China.”

Forward-Looking Statements 

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