Speech by Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong at HPB’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations

02 Jul 2011

SPEECH BY MINISTER FOR HEALTH, MR GAN KIM YONG
AT HPB’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
AT CHOA CHU KANG COMMUNITY CLUB
2 JULY 2011 (SATURDAY), 9.30 AM

Mr Lucas Chow, Chairman of the Board

Board Members of Health Promotion Board

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1     I am pleased to join you this morning to celebrate the Health Promotion Board’s 10th Anniversary. Health promotion is the crucial first step to good health. It is much better to keep healthy rather than seek treatment when one falls ill. A healthy person will enjoy a better quality of life with his or her family.

2     Through the efforts of HPB and its programmes over the last 10 years, many Singaporeans now have the knowledge and skills they need to lead a healthy lifestyle.  By educating and enabling us to make healthy choices, we can become fitter, healthier individuals.  Healthier individuals are also more productive and less likely to require time off from work due to sickness.  In a short decade, HPB has developed and implemented effective initiatives, guidelines, policies and programmes for youths, adults and older adults, thereby improving their quality of life.

3     One of HPB’s efforts is the ongoing fight against smoking.  As we all know, a smoker is more likely to develop heart disease as well as throat and lung cancers.

4     Based on a study conducted in 2009, National Smoking Control Programmes between 1986 and 2006 managed to avert more than 14,000 cases of lung cancer . That means that we have spared 14,000 individuals and their families from the emotional and physical pain of cancer. We can and we should do more in our battle against smoking.  This is especially so among our youth to prevent them from picking up the habit.

5     Another important issue being tackled by HPB is obesity.  A high Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. We are aware of the potential burden to society as a result of high rates of obesity. A recent study commissioned by HPB highlighted 46 obesity management programmes that have been implemented globally and demonstrated successful outcomes. These 46 programmes are the global standards for best practices. I am happy to share that most, if not all of these programmes, have already been implemented by HPB.

6     However, it takes two hands to clap. In order for these programmes to succeed, HPB constantly engages our residents, so that it is able to tailor its programmes to remain relevant to the needs and lifestyles of the community.

7     One key strategy is their bottom-up approach to inspire healthy lifestyle. They are doing this by rallying the community to take ownership of the programmes so as to create sustainable momentum.

8     The 3P partners, people, private and public sectors, then work together to provide the resources, training and outreach. Such collaboration across the three sectors has resulted in several recent initiatives such as the Healthy Hawker centre in Yuhua, the Health Promoting Community Centre in Bukit Timah, the Health Promoting School Canteen at Wellington Primary School, the I Quit and Health Ambassadors programmes. The increase in such programmes and the positive response from the stakeholders are proof that this is a viable health promotion strategy for the long run.

9     I am pleased to see the passion and commitment of HPB staff. A great demonstration of this is today’s event. Hak Seng, CEO HPB, told me that this event is just one of 34 events that are concurrently being held at CCs throughout the nation. As we speak, there are more than 800 HPB staff, spending their Saturday mornings all over Singapore, sharing with the needy and the aged how to lead healthier lifestyles.

10    The private sector has also come out in force today in support of our health promotion efforts. Several companies have come together to contribute items such as exercise bands, brown rice bee hoon, freeze-dried fruits and wholegrain cereals for the Healthy Lifestyle Kits that are being distributed today to the older adults in the CCs.

11    I am pleased to announce that HPB is also using their 10th anniversary as a platform to launch their new Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme. This programme involves encouraging those 50 years and older to get screened for the number one cancer in Singapore.

12    Not many Singaporeans are aware of this cancer, yet it affects so many of us. Unfortunately, colorectal cancer rarely shows any symptoms in the early stages.

13    Today, the Faecal Immunochemical Test kit (also known as the FIT kit), which is a take-home test for colorectal cancer, will be given free to about 4,000 older adults at the 34 community centres nationwide. HPB has worked with the company which produces the kits, as well as grassroots organisations to make them available to you today. I urge all those who receive the kits to take the test and submit it for testing. You will receive the results within a month and should your results be of concern, HPB’s nurses will call you to help you make an appointment with a hospital for further testing.

14    I encourage you to participate in the health programme that HPB has prepared for you and I hope you take home the knowledge and skills that will help you make important changes for a healthy lifestyle.

15    Once again, Happy 10th Anniversary, HPB. Here’s to another decade of successful health promotion.