Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health, at "Celebrating Women of WINGS - Ties that Bind" Fundraising Lunch

Dr Kanwaljit Soin, Founding President, Society for WINGS

Ms Janice Goh, President, WINGS

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.         Good afternoon to all of you. Yesterday was International Women’s Day. I am honoured and happy to be here with you to celebrate this special day, the Women of WINGS, and the ties that bind.

2.         Women are key pillars in our families and in our community. They have been the bedrock of love and influence in our homes and neighbourhoods, always lending a listening ear and a helping hand. Many are leaders in the workforce, active volunteers, and are caregivers to their parents and spouses, while at the same time supporting their children and extended families. Today, we are here to celebrate women of all ages and backgrounds, and your strength, perseverance, and insight. You are a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, mentor, and a friend. You have touched the lives of those around you, in your own unique way.

Empowering Women to Age Successfully

3.         WINGS was formed in 2007 to empower women who are 40 and above to take charge of their later years, and to live a healthy life and age gracefully with confidence. This confidence comes from the ability to take responsibility for our own health, happiness, and financial wellbeing. WINGS has been going strong for 12 years.

4.         In 2015, the Government launched the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, with over 70 initiatives to promote healthy and active ageing amongst Singaporeans. These include preventive health programmes, and avenues to continue learning for life, be connected to the community, and contribute to society through volunteering. Every senior, and every woman, should have opportunities to stay active and engaged, and pursue their aspirations. The Government will continue to provide assurance for Singaporeans, and help them care for their families and loved ones in their silver years. Let me share some examples.

Supporting Caregivers and Promoting Women’s Health

5.         Many of you are caregivers. With one in four Singaporeans being aged 65 and above by 2030, caregivers will play increasingly important roles in ensuring our seniors age gracefully in their home where they are comfortable and familiar. The Government recently launched the Caregiver Support Action Plan, which lays out key initiatives to improve care navigation in the community, provide financial and workplace support, improve respite options, and support caregivers with their socio-emotional needs. Some of these measures include the new Home Caregiving Grant to offset caregiving expenses, and increasing the budget for the Work-Life Grant for more companies to sustain their employees’ adoption of flexible work arrangements. We need a whole of society approach to achieve this, and community organisations, including WINGS, play an important role in mobilising resources to recognise and support caregivers in our midst.

6.         The Government will continue to address specific women’s health issues and meet the needs of women as they age. The Women’s Health Committee, which I co-chair, champions good health amongst Singaporean women at all stages of life, from ensuring optimal health during childbearing age, to enhancing coverage of cancer screening, and promoting good bone health in their silver years. As post-menopausal women are more at risk of osteoporosis or fractures, the Ministry of Health published an Appropriate Care Guide last November to better support general practitioners and family doctors to identify and treat osteoporosis early. We are also introducing a more accurate DNA screening test for women aged 30 years and above for cervical cancer prevention, which would require less frequent trips to the doctor. For women with a history of gestational diabetes, we are making early screening more convenient by ensuring that they are automatically eligible for subsidised cardiovascular risk screening under the Screen for Life programme. We should all get screened and keep exercising for good bone health!       

7.         This year’s Budget also has several initiatives which would benefit more women. This includes a CPF top-up of up to $1000, for Singaporeans aged 50 to 64 this year with less than $60,000 of retirement savings in their CPF accounts. We will also raise monthly cash assistance rates under the ComCare Long-Term Assistance scheme, to support the living expenses of those who are unable to work and have little family support. The Government will continue to look at ways to help uplift the lives of Singaporeans, including women, who may have given up their jobs to be full time caregivers.

Empowering Women through WINGS’ initiatives

8.         I am heartened to note that WINGS looks at empowering women holistically through educational programmes to enhance their physical, mental, and financial well-being. From creating awareness and providing forums for discussions on diabetes and dementia, to addressing sensitive issues like depression, WINGS has partnered many organisations to reach out to women from all walks of life. One example of a woman whose life has been touched is Ms Saudah Binte Marwan, a retired teacher in her 60s. She attended the HappinessAct course offered by WINGS under the National Silver Academy, which equipped her with the tools and techniques to improve her quality of life and build better relationships with her loved ones. She has since attended other courses with her sister, and enjoyed the bonding sessions and learning more about herbs and gardening.

9.         Another area of exceptional work has been efforts to equip WINGS women with employable skills in their later years. WINGS has trained close to 500 certified confinement nannies and will be rolling out new programmes for WINGS women, including training to be a phonics educator. Such programmes not only provide new employment opportunities for mature women, but also bridge the generations by supporting new parents and young children.

Conclusion

10.      I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of you present here today, who have stepped forward and made a difference by providing support to WINGS.  Your support has and will help WINGS to fulfil its mission to empower women to age with confidence, and live life to the fullest. To the ladies of WINGS, thank you for your solidarity and strength, and your unwavering efforts to help others to live healthily and age well. To all the gentlemen who are present today, thank you for your support too.

11.      I would also like to commend the WINGS’ Board, past and present, for their efforts and initiatives through the years. And especially WINGS’ founding President, Dr Kanwaljit Soin, for her vision, leadership, and what I think is another trait that women share – a sense of steadfastness and a will to make a difference in people’s lives.

12.      Thank you all for celebrating with me, and I wish you a great afternoon ahead.