OPENING REMARKS BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE AWWA SILVER SPORTS DAY 2023

Mr Karthik, CEO of AWWA

Mr Suresh Natarajan, Principal of ITE College Central

Staff, partners, volunteers, seniors, and distinguished guests.

   A very good morning to everyone. It brings me great joy to be part of AWWA’s ninth run of its Silver Sports Day event this year. It is a pleasure to see so many of us being able to come together and embrace a healthy lifestyle with sports, games and exercise. Looking at all the happy and enthusiastic seniors here today, this event is indeed a testament to the fact that age is not a barrier when it comes to pursuing an active lifestyle.

2. Sports have the remarkable power of bringing people together and fostering a sense of camaraderie. We also know that exercising regularly reduces health risks, improves mental health, and can even help in stress relief. The importance of staying active, and in turn, nurturing our physical and mental well-being cannot be emphasised enough.

3. Beyond the myriad of sport activities offered at today’s event, I also encourage seniors to continue participating in the exciting suite of active ageing programmes offered by the various partners at the community nodes near you. I’m sure many of you are aware of the launch of Healthier SG earlier this month. A key aspect underpinning Healthier SG is the mindset shift from reactively treating diseases, to proactive preventive care. By working with our family doctors, and with the support of community partners, we can take action to keep ourselves healthy and physically active as a way of life. For example, the AWWA Active Ageing Centre (AAC) at Ang Mo Kio offers a wide range of programmes such as physical exercise and games sessions for seniors, empowering them to adopt active lifestyles and stay socially connected. Working closely with the AWWA Community of Care, the AAC connects seniors with services based on their individualised health and social needs. I also encourage you to check out the offerings from the “Live Well, Age Well” programme by the Health Promotion Board and the People's Association. These take place at various convenient locations nationwide, including AACs and Community Clubs. These activities aim to improve seniors' social, mental, and physical health, all vital in promoting holistic well-being.

4. I am also very heartened to see the participation of many students as volunteers at today’s event. Your enthusiasm and dedication have been instrumental in creating an enjoyable and memorable experience for us and our senior participants. I would also like to express my thanks to the ITE management for your immense support. Fostering inter-generational bonding has always been a key priority in our efforts to promote successful ageing. Through this event and many more of such events to come, I hope there will be more opportunities to nurture meaningful connections between the young and seniors, fostering mutual respect and understanding between generations to build a supportive and cohesive society.

5. There is a saying that, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones”. We can only move towards a healthy Singapore if everyone takes positive action. I also hope to see you at our upcoming National Celebration of Seniors event, which seeks to highlight this whole-of-society effort to encourage seniors to stay well and connected to our community. With that, I wish all of you a fun-filled day ahead, and good luck to our young-at-heart participants! All the best!

6. Thank you.