Launch Of The Ang Mo Kio Hospital's New Logo And Home Physiotherapy Services

21 Jul 2003

By Dr Balaji Sadasivan

Venue: Ang Mo Kio Hospital

INTRODUCTION

I am happy to be here to celebrate the launch of the new logo for Ang Mo Kio Hospital and the launch of the hospital's Home Physiotherapy Services as well as to join in the celebration of Racial Harmony Week. Dr Chong Weng Chiew told me that they have specially chosen today, 21 July, which is Racial Harmony Day, for the launch, as the new logo signifies the hospital?s emphasis on caring for patients of different ethnic groups.

RACIAL HARMONY IN ANG MO KIO HOSPITAL

It is quite a common sight to see people from each race clad in their own cultural costumes. But how often do we see the Chinese lady, living next door to us, clad in a sari or the Indian lady clad in a cheongsam? Not often, I must say. So when someone puts on a cultural outfit of another race, they STAND OUT from the crowd, just as many of you STAND OUT today in different cultural outfits.

Singapore is a nation built by people from many races and cultures. Living in harmony is therefore important and relevant to everyone in Singapore, regardless of whether he or she is a Singaporean. Harmony ensures the continued peace and prosperity that Singapore has enjoyed for many years.

Racial and religious harmony is critical in any organization and probably more so in a setting like Ang Mo Kio Hospital. As almost 70% of the patients at Ang Mo Kio Hospital are at least 70 years old, they are likely to be a group with deeper vested cultural and traditional values than the younger population. On the other hand, the staff that cares for them at Ang Mo Kio Hospital belongs largely to the younger generation from different races, nations and religions. This blend requires both patients and staff to learn, understand and respect the customs and traditions of the different races and religions so that they can coexist peacefully and work together towards the common goal - the goal of a speedy recovery for the patient so that they can return to their homes as soon as possible.

Ang Mo Kio Hospital has always been mindful of the importance of racial and religious harmony. I was told that the Hospital makes it a point to conduct mandarin and dialect courses for staff who are unable to converse in these languages. It is critical that staff learn some common languages so that they can converse with the elderly patients. The Hospital also observes and celebrates the different festivities, such as Lunar New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya and Christmas. I believe that it is through such celebrations and learning processes that we grow to understand and respect each race, culture and religion. Racial and religious harmony cannot be taken for granted.

Ang Mo Kio Hospital has a multiracial and multicultural mix of patients and staff. 89% of the patients at Ang Mo Kio Hospital are Chinese, 6% Malay, 3% Indians and 1% others. On the other hand, of the 264 staff at Ang Mo Kio Hospital, only 50% are Chinese, 13% are Malay, 13% Indian and 24% belong to other ethnic groups.

HOME CARE SERVICES

Although Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital started operations about 10 years ago, the current Management of the current Ang Mo Kio Hospital took over the operations of the hospital only about a year ago. The last one year has been one of transition for the hospital and I understand that the hospital was able to minimize staff turnover and maintain a good standard of patient care. You have moved on with community outreach programmes, and have also started home medical and home nursing services in October 2002. The number of homebound elderly you are serving in the home medical and home nursing services is growing steadily. Today, we are also here to celebrate the launch of Ang Mo Kio Hospital's Home Physiotherapy Services. This Home Physiotherapy service will help meet the therapy needs of many patients who have difficulty assessing community-based services such as Day Care Centers and Day Rehabilitation services due to their physical, mental or functional problems. Environmental and transportation limitations also hinder these patients from getting to community-based services. Home Physiotherapy services would give these people an opportunity to maximize their rehabilitative potentials and not to deteriorate into de-conditioned physical or mental state for lack of therapy. I believe you are offering home physiotherapy services island-wide. I am heartened indeed, to see Ang Mo Kio Hospital progress from strength to strength.

On this happy occasion, I would like to take the opportunity to commend Ang Mo Kio Hospital for the part they have played in the recent SARS crisis. AMKH was quick to co-operate with the added precautions that are required during the crisis. When Ministry approached AMKH to assist as a holding institution for patients discharged from restructured hospitals, they responded positively, readily, and played the role responsibly and with fervor. Ang Mo Kio Hospital, you have played an important part in our national effort to control SARS. Well done and thank you.

With this, it leaves me the great pleasure to launch Ang Mo Kio Hospital's new logo and Home Physiotherapy Services.