Address by Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Paliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health and Manpower, at the opening of the Singapore Red Cross Photo Exhibition

21 Oct 2009

By Mr Hawazi Daipi

1. Good morning.  It gives me great pleasure to join you at such a special occasion, where we get to see the extensive work of the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) in such a nostalgic and imaginative display.

2. Since 1949, the SRC has touched the hearts of many here and in the region, as it gives the less privileged and the distressed the help they need. From the beginnings as a branch of the British Red Cross, to the present era of reaching out to the world, the SRC strives to be an inclusive humanitarian organisation.

3. Be it blood donation, emergency relief, voluntary community service or the provision of First Aid, the SRC has made impartial humanitarian service its main purpose and principle.

4. As Singaporeans in the midst of rapid globalisation and economic development, we must not forget about serving our fellow men. In this evolving social and economic landscape, the changing needs of the underprivileged must be recognised and met with, especially during uncertain economic times. Indeed it is during times like these, that we should be more sensitive to the needs of the less fortunate.

5. Through its intricate and thorough handling of overseas relief and recovery operations, the SRC has done Singapore proud. Holding the trust and generosity of Singaporeans, the SRC reached into some of the most remote areas in the world, ensuring public funds culminated into self-sustainable and economically viable projects for the disaster victims. This is most evident in the Sichuan Earthquake, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the Boxing Day Tsunami projects. I would like to commend the SRC and the volunteers for always standing ready to help our neighbours in the region, even as natural disasters become more frequent in this part of the world.

6. The SRC has always been a good partner of the government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Health, in times of civil emergency and disaster relief support by providing First Aiders and assisting in the coordination of resources and volunteers for relief efforts respectively. 

7. The SRC has also supported the government through its many public initiatives and iconic events such as the Singapore Grand Prix, the Asian Youth Games and the National Day Parade.

8. SRC is also the appointed national blood donor recruiter.  Since 2001, it has worked closely with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), which operates the national blood bank, to promote regular voluntary blood donations.  With SRC’s strong humanitarian movement and networks, SRC lends a strategic and natural voice as the advocate for the national policy of non-remunerated blood donation.  

9. SRC has played a key role in reaching out to companies, schools and the community with its programmes to recruit blood donors.  With more than 350 units of blood needed daily in Singapore, the number of blood donors coming forward continues to increase annually from slightly over 40,000 donors in 2001 to more than 60,000 regular donors last year. 

10. Through the years, the SRC’s long and dedicated service has established itself as a trusted organisation – one that is trained in helping the distressed regardless of their background. And Singaporeans continuously return their generosity to society, supporting the SRC as it renders assistance to the needy here and in the region.

11. I wish you all an enjoyable time today and I now declare the Singapore Red Cross 60th Anniversary Photo Exhibition open.