Speech by Mr Hawazi Daipi, SPS, at the Opening of the 7th Asia Pacific Nurses Convention (ASPAN)

30 Jun 2010

By Mr Hawazi Daipi

Venue: Meritus Mandarin Hotel Singapore

1 I congratulate the Singapore Nurses Association for organising the 7th Asia Pacific Nurses Convention and am honoured to be able to join you at the opening of your conference.  The theme “N^Power: Health for All” reflects the Ministry of Health’s Vision “Championing a healthy nation with our people”. To translate that vision, the Ministry is progressively making strategic shifts to its healthcare policies beyond sickness to wellness and from treatment to prevention.

Integrated Healthcare: Towards Health For All

2 We are moving towards an integrated model of healthcare delivery where such integrated care depends on a strong network of trusted relationships built among the hospitals and various community organisations, including academic institutions, corporations, voluntary welfare organisations and even, grassroots organisations. Over time, we want patients and their families to experience seamless flow from the acute to the intermediate and long-term care, and the community and vice versa.

3 I have little doubt that to nurses, this concept of integrated healthcare service resonates well with you because in your daily work, you are often the coordinators of care within the multidisciplinary healthcare team but more importantly, you have always embraced the philosophy and practice of holistic care. To illustrate, our Masters prepared Advanced Practice Nurses play three important roles (1) Performing advanced procedures which promote responsive care;  (2) Supporting continuing care through educating and empowering the patient and family in chronic diseases self management; and (3) role modelling and coaching junior nurses.

Community Outreach

4 With little natural resources, Singapore’s success depends very much on having a healthy and productive population. I believe nurses understand this well especially those who find time to volunteer in community outreach programmes in spite of their already hectic and often times, erratic work schedules. Nurses are valued for their skill in health screenings and knowledge in healthy lifestyle and chronic disease and sought after for educational talks . While involvement in such community outreach are usually adhoc and can be sporadic, the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Sembawang Shipyard, the first of its kind, has taken community outreach to another level. This formal arrangement offers a structured approach that enables Shipyard employees who work and live within the local hospital’s catchment area easy access to healthcare services, in order for them to adopt a healthy lifestyle early . Our local shipyard workers are catching up in age and they may have problems of chronic illness and so we need to focus on management of chronic disease. It is hoped that as pioneers, KTPH nurses will set the trail for others to follow because they will inevitably play a greater role in this structured health promotion initiative.

Social Responsibilities By Nursing Academics And Student Nurses

5 For many nurses, social responsibility started early in their nursing careers – even during their training days. Local academic institutions encourage and provide opportunities for their trainee nurses to participate regularly in community health promotion and charity outreach programmes. A few even had their volunteering assignments in remote villages of our neighbouring countries. This well-balanced and well-grounded education for trainee nurses in Singapore is indeed commendable. I’m heartened to note that even as more nurses attain higher academic qualifications through Bachelor, Masters and PhD studies, they will continue to epitomise compassion for others who are less privileged.

Partnering MOH In Shaping The Future Of Healthcare

6 Having been exposed to technological advancements in the clinical settings, from monitors to pumps to more sophisticated equipment, it is not surprising that nurses have embraced communication innovations. Blackberries and iPhones are not confined to the nursing administrators, but it is not uncommon to see junior nurses using them too. Their latest mobile phones can even make their administrators’ models look outdated!

7 The many nurses’ personal blogs are testament that they are no longer reticent about their opinions and want their views to be heard. I urge nurses to be active and responsible netizens to engage in fruitful discussions over healthcare issues and to suggest ways to improve our healthcare system.

8 Being a 24/7 service that is directly in touch with patients and their families, nursing is in a good and credible position to speak about whether healthcare policies are efficacious and equitable for Singapore’s population. Indeed Singapore workers are expanding to include new citizens and foreign workers. Opportunities abound for nurses to share your views and feedback, which would contribute to shaping better healthcare policies and delivery systems in Singapore. With the wide use of online platforms such as blogs, it is easy to share your successes (and also your challenges) so that others can learn from you and avoid re-inventing what is already available. I also do hope that you will be able to encourage younger Singaporeans to take up nursing as their career.

9 In conclusion, I commend the organising committee for making possible this platform where nurses share their contributions towards achieving health for all. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our foreign delegates and encourage you to take some time off to explore our beautiful garden city of good food and shopping. I wish you a lively exchange of ideas and a fruitful conference.