SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND MP FOR JURONG GRC, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE 1ST TAMAN JURONG HEALTH DAY INCORPORATING JURONG HEALTHCONNECT’S 1ST ANNIVERSARY ON SATURDAY, 25TH JUNE 2005 AT 10.00 AM AT TAMAN JURONG COMMUNITY CLUB

SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND MP FOR JURONG GRC, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE 1^ST TAMAN JURONG HEALTH DAY INCORPORATING JURONG HEALTHCONNECT’S 1^ST ANNIVERSARY ON SATURDAY, 25^TH JUNE 2005 AT 10.00 AM AT TAMAN JURONG COMMUNITY CLUB

Dr Amy Khor

Mayor, South West CDC

Dr Tan Cheng Bock

Chairman of the Jurong HealthConnect Advisory Committee

Mr Ng Siow How

Chairman, Taman Jurong CCC

Taman Jurong GROs

Residents and Friends

1. Taman Jurong Health Day is an excellent initiative. It brings healthcare services closer to the residents of Taman Jurong. We will make this an annual event.

2. While Taman Jurong has had various community healthcare initiatives carried out over the years, we are now taking a more systematic and organized approach to promoting community healthcare and healthier living. We want to raise awareness of healthy living beyond current levels. We can achieve this through regular and targeted efforts aimed at providing residents greater access to healthcare information, services and programmes that cater to their prevailing healthcare needs. The recent 2004 national health survey showed that while the trend on diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol seem to have decreased, there is still a sizeable number of people who are unaware that they have these medical conditions and risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

3. Speaking of healthier living, we can begin by being more health conscious, start exercising regularly and most importantly to eat healthily. In doing so diligently, we can possibly bring down our BMIs (if they are already high) to acceptable levels and live active and more productive lives.

4. Just next door, we have an excellent example of people from our very own community working to promote healthier living. The stall holders of Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre are leading by example in taking “Healthy” measures into their own hands.

5. As a collective show of strength, stall holders have started to get themselves health-screened and they are hoping to get 100% screened in the coming weeks. The screening exercise will not only indicate how healthy they are, but importantly to start on the necessary treatment and other programmes for those found to have health risks. I must commend on their effort for their proactive approach to health awareness.

6. Next, with the support of the Health Promotion Board, Jurong Town Shop Proprietors and Hawker’s association and Jurong HealthConnect, food stall holders have taken an energetic interest in serving healthier versions of their dishes. In working with nutritionists and dieteticians from the Health Promotion Board, food stall holders are now better informed on the “power” they wield over the food they serve. Going “less oil”, “less fat”, “less sugar” or “more vegetables” will soon be a regular affair in the health interest of their patrons.

7. “But what about the taste factor?” You all know the usual - healthy food does not taste good or tastes bland. Well, through a recent voting campaign involving residents and patrons of the food centre, I’m glad to inform you that several dishes have emerged as Taman Jurong’s healthiest and tastiest. This confirms that the taste is still there in the food, it just got healthier that’s all. The fun part now is for you to try them all out. I think a lot more creativity in preparing and cooking food in a healthier way can be put in and I challenge our friends who prepare and sell food at food courts and hawker centres to keep trying and doing that.

8. According to the Health Promotion Board, hawker food is very popular among Singaporeans where 6 in 10 Singaporeans eat out at least one meal a day, majority at hawker centres and food courts. It is only natural that we should focus our energies in working with food centres and food sellers to promote healthy eating by providing healthier choices for their customers. There is this Chinese phrase :

病从口入

bing cong kou ru

( illness finds its way in by the mouth )

We really need to pay a little more attention to what we eat, and to maintain a healthy diet.

9. I hope that the exemplary effort by the Taman Jurong market and food centre and its supporting partners will ignite and serve to sustain more community healthcare initiatives to benefit Singaporeans. What they have carried out, aptly resonates with the theme of today’s event – Healthy Living, Healthy Food and Healthy Community. Well done.

10. At the end of the day, with so much being done to promote healthier living, it will eventually boil down to the individual who must take personal interest in his or her own state of health and to make well informed choices along the continuum of healthcare. It is about taking small steps in quick succession, and importantly in the right direction. So, let us spend a little time today to soak in today’s health fair atmosphere, where you can find out more about certain health related matters or even better, get yourself a thorough health-screen to assess how healthy you are.

11. I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank the Taman Jurong Health Day organizing committee for their precious time and untiring effort in organizing today’s programme. My appreciation also goes to South West CDC, Taman Jurong CCC, Taman Jurong grassroots organizations, Health Promotion Board, and the Jurong Town Shop Proprietors & Hawkers Association for their unwavering support in making today’s health day most memorable.

12. I would also like to congratulate Jurong HealthConnect on its 1st anniversary, in reaching yet another milestone for its work in helping to re-model healthcare in Singapore, and its unstinting partnership as “healthcare connector” for the communities within the South West District. Your involvement in today’s event is greatly appreciated.

13. I look forward to a most fruitful partnership ahead between Taman Jurong, Jurong HealthConnect and partners aplenty in working towards a healthier and happier community.

14. Thank you.