Dear Partners and Friends,
Throughout this year, our newsletter will continue to focus on population health and our collective efforts towards preventive health and a Healthier SG in the Central Zone.
The Central Zone comprises seven subzones extending from Ang Mo Kio in the north to Novena-Kallang in the south. Each subzone has a different profile with its unique set of challenges as well as community strengths. We hope to feature the community and the good work of our partners in the various subzones over the next few issues, and showcase how we work together as a community of care to support population health.
We start with our largest subzone Novena-Kallang (NK), which includes the Balestier, Whampoa, Moulmein, Kampong Java, and Boon Keng neighbourhoods. The population in the Central Zone is 10 years older than the rest of Singapore. NK has a higher than average number of the residents over the age of 65 than the rest of Central. It also has higher numbers of low socio-economic status (SES) residents who live alone. Support for isolated residents, to ensure that they are able to age well in the community, is therefore a key priority for this area. To tackle these issues and others, NK is blessed with 26 community care partners, 23 GP partners, and many assets in their neighborhoods.
A good example of collaborative care is Dover Park Hospice’s R.I.S.E programme, a partnership between Dover Park Hospice, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Ren Ci Hospital that created a seamless ecosystem of care for patients with chronic non-cancer lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, Interstitial Lung Disease and Bronchiectasis.
CEO of Tsao Foundation shares about Whampoa’s EMPOWER programme that activates seniors and then partners them to improve care provision in the Whampoa neighbourhood. Kwong Wai Shiu Care discusses how they spearheaded functional screenings, in partnership with AIC and HPB, to bring earlier interventions to residents.
Building upon our partnerships, we look forward to providing better care for our Novena-Kallang residents through the establishment of our Communities of Care.
Yours Truly,
Loh Shu Ching
Executive Director,
Division for Central Health
1. The Novena-Kallang subzone used to also include Rochor until the start of this year when the population in Rochor was assigned to Singhealth, together with some parts of Geylang. The Singhealth and NHG teams met with partners working in Rochor to ensure that care and support would continue seamlessly.
