Healthcare Humanity Awards 2020

 

A/Prof Lim Poh Lian (Honourable Mention)

Senior Consultant and Head of Travellers’ Health & Vaccination Clinic, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases’ (NCID) High Level Isolation Unit

A/Prof Lim is Senior Consultant and Head of Travellers’ Health & Vaccination Clinic, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), and Director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases’ (NCID) High Level Isolation Unit. She is part of the Centre’s outbreak team, and is active in both clinical care and education. On 5 October 2020, A/Prof Lim was appointed to the 14-member Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination that advises the Government on strategies to ensure the safe and effective use of COVID-19 vaccines in our population. She was also presented the Nanyang Education Award (School) at the annual Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Awards 2019, the highest honour conferred to faculty members for teaching. Locally, she chairs the National Antimicrobial Resistance Control Committee, and was lauded for her efforts in identifying Singapore’s first case of Monkeypox in 2019. Internationally, she sits on the United Nations Global Health Crises Taskforce and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) Committee. Her compassion for the sick and underprivileged extends beyond her professional work – in 2018, she adopted her son, Keyuan from China, upon hearing his story through a documentary.

It has been a gift to serve as an infectious disease doctor here, in patient care and public health, to give of my best out of a love of Christ.”

- A/Prof Lim Poh Lian

 

Ms Chok See San

Principal Speech Therapist

Ms Chok has been working as a speech therapist for some 20 years. Her clinical work covers a wide range of the population with various diagnoses – across acute, rehabilitation and community settings. When a young patient suffered a brain tumour that affected his speech clarity and studies, Ms Chok encouraged him to take up an English course that enabled him to become a teaching assistant. She has volunteered at seven nursing homes, equipping nurses with relevant skills to improve patient care.

See San is also passionate in providing mentorship to junior therapists. Under See San’s mentorship and advice, she has helped staff new to the profession gain confidence and passion at work. See San also takes time to share her personal experience and values with staff after working hours. She sees the importance of instilling right values and a positive outlook in life from the onset, to equip new staff to excel in their chosen field. Through her steadfastness in ethics and humanity, she has changed the course of future for her mentees to a brighter one.

The best and most rewarding return of my effort is when it makes a difference in the lives of the people I serve and care for. In continuing to do so, I in turn learn to be a better person.”

- Ms Chok See San

 

Mdm Mabel Lee

Volunteer, Diversional Therapy Unit (DTU)

Madam Lee is one of the longest-serving volunteers at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s (TTSH) Diversional Therapy Unit (DTU). DTU aims to uplift the mood of tuberculosis patients by engaging them in handicraft and social activities. Over the past 20 years, this active senior who is also a retired nurse has energetically championed fundraising efforts with proceeds channelled to TTSH Community Fund; and befriended and offered a listening ear to elderly patients. Outside the hospital, Madam Lee helps out at a soup kitchen. The DTU volunteers look up to Mdm Lee as an inspirational role model and pillar of strength. Through her calm and warm personality, she has created a strong social network and support system among volunteers in DTU.

I am grateful for the years that I have spent in Diversional Therapy Unit (DTU). We had accomplished many milestones and will continue to do so in the years to come.”

- Mdm Mabel Lee

 

Ms Edna Tan

Volunteer, The Hope Collective

Ms Tan volunteers with The Hope Collective, where one of its outreach includes seeing to the needs of elderly seniors who live alone in both rental and purchased blocks at Kebun Baru and the vicinity. She spends her free time serving the residents and volunteers. As a volunteer administrator, she coaches and mentors volunteers. She also advocates for persons with disabilities and offers counselling to families she meets through her volunteer work.

I do not believe in limiting myself to a specific role as a volunteer. Knowing every bit I do makes a difference to the elderly, pushes me to go beyond.”

- Ms Edna Tan