Speech by RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Minister of State, Ministry of Education, at the 8th National Eye Care Day Opening Ceremony on Saturday, 1 December 2007, 10am, at Singapore National Eye Centre

SPEECH BY RADM (NS) LUI TUCK YEW, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AT THE 8TH NATIONAL EYE CARE DAY OPENING CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2007, 10AM, AT SINGAPORE NATIONAL EYE CENTRE

Mr Bernard Chen
Chairman, SingHealth

Prof Tan Ser Kiat
Group CEO, SingHealth,

Professor Ang Chong Lye
Director, SNEC,

Dr Cordelia Chan
Organising Chairperson of the National Eye Care Day 2007

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning.

1. I am delighted to join you on this occasion to mark the opening of the 8th National Eye Care Day. Since its inception in the year 2000, about 15,000 people have benefited through the annual screenings and talks and learned about cataracts, glaucoma diabetic retinopathy among other potentially sight-threatening conditions and the treatment options available.

2. I was told that in previous years, the organisers had reached out to various age groups such as children, young parents and care-givers. This year, the organizers have chosen to focus on the elderly because they are more prone to a range of eye maladies such as cataracts, glaucoma and various diabetic eye conditions. For example, there seems to be a rising trend in glaucoma in the past few years, from 6.3 percent in 2000 to 13.4 percent in 2005.[1]

3. The need for quality eye care is especially important in the elderly segment of the population as the government looks towards promoting active ageing. We are continually reviewing and developing our resources to meet the medical needs of this rapidly growing group. I am glad that the Singapore National Eye Centre and its partners have proactively chosen to raise public awareness and inform the elderly of this rising trend in eye conditions.

4. The acts of community service by healthcare professionals will certainly go a long way towards promoting the cause of maintaining good health among the elderly. I am told that today, seven centres over different parts of the island are offering free eye screening that will reach out to about 3,000 people. Some of them like the Singapore National Eye Centre, Alexandra Hospital and Jurong Medical Centre are also offering free basic health screening and public educational talks on caring for the eye. I am heartened by these initiatives and hope these will encourage Singaporeans to take ownership of their health and make use of the opportunities to attend the talks or go for eye and health screening.

5. I commend the Singapore National Eye Centre for initiating and spearheading the annual community event together with the eye departments of the restructured hospitals, Tan Tock Seng, National University, Alexandra and Changi General Hospitals and Jurong Medical Centre. I am sure this meaningful community service initiative will help many seniors maintain healthy sight in their golden years. With that, I wish you a successful event.

Thank you.

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[1] Source: Data provided by Singapore National Eye Centre