2,000 seniors in Kebun Baru constituency join Wellness Programme

By Hoe Yeen Nie & Seet Sok Hwee Posted: 21 March 2010 2147 hrs

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1045030/1/.html

2,000 seniors in Kebun Baru constituency join Wellness Programme

SINGAPORE: With a fast-aging population, the Singapore government wants to get at least half of senior citizens here on regular exercise and health screenings.

In 2008, it piloted a Wellness Programme in nine constituencies, including Kebun Baru to do just that. Since then, the programme has attracted some 2,000 seniors in the area.

Grassroots leaders want to tell residents that staying active need not be hard work, as it can be fun too. There about 25,000 residents aged 50 and above in Kebun Baru, the fastest-aging constituency in Ang Mo Kio GRC after Teck Ghee.

A pilot programme targeted at seniors here recently found that eight in 10 had diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol. The pilot Wellness Programme was rolled out in 2009 to 12 constituencies.

In Kebun Baru, about 2,000 senior citizens took part, of which half did not have regular health screenings. "We've got full-time coordinators together with volunteers, who will reach out to every one of these residents, to follow up with them to make sure they seek some form of medical help," said Inderjit Singh, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Mr Inderjit added that while health screenings had been conducted in the past, there usually was not any follow-up afterwards, and he hopes to change that.

Of course, activities like this are great for family-bonding too!

Said a resident: "It's very busy during normal days, that we hardly have such a good chance for the family to get together to play games. It's very happening lah!"

Even Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, could not resist joining in.

"I was particularly happy to see the family activities, where the families came together, old and young, and participated in the same event," said Mr Lee. "The warmth, enthusiasm, the fun they had, the smiles on their faces, it's a good feeling that we care for one another and this is what makes our society." About 1,200 residents took part in the sports carnival on Sunday.

- CNA/yb