Speech by Mr Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health, at the Launch of National Heart Week & World Heart Day 2018, 29 September 2018

Professor Terrance Chua, Chairman, Singapore Heart Foundation

Singapore Heart Foundation Board Members

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

1.             Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the launch event for National Heart Week and World Heart Day.

2.             Heart disease is one of the top contributors to our disease burden. In 2017, 17 people died every day from heart diseases and stroke, accounting for 30% of all deaths in the year[1].The risk factors leading to heart disease and stroke are well-studied, and many of them, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits are preventable if we can make healthier choices in our daily lives. This is why it is important to raise awareness of the widespread prevalence of heart disease and to rally Singaporeans to take personal responsibility in tackling the problem.

PREVENTION OF HEART DISEASES

3.             Diabetes is one major risk factor for heart disease. The fight against diabetes is therefore crucial, and the government has introduced various initiatives to support and empower Singaporeans to do so. As part of the War on Diabetes, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has introduced the Healthier Dining Programme to help consumers choose healthier options when they dine out. HPB aims to ensure that by 2019, at least 40% of stalls across all hawker centres and coffee shops will have at least one healthier option on their menu.

4.             HPB also introduced the Healthier Ingredients Development Scheme (HIDS) in 2017 to incentivise food ingredient manufacturers and suppliers to develop better quality and greater varieties of healthier staples, and promote their adoption among F&B businesses and consumers. HPB will be expanding HIDS to support the food industry in developing lower-sugar products with an additional funding of $15 million. HPB will also connect the novel ingredient suppliers with manufacturers and F&B establishments, as well as provide technical guidance in the reformulation process.

5.             Other than taking care of our diet, there are other steps that all of us can and should take to reduce the risk of heart disease. Prevention involves adopting a healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity. Initiatives like HPB’s National Steps Challenge and HealthHub Track, a personal health management mobile app, have been introduced to encourage Singaporeans to adopt active lifestyles and take charge of our own health.

6.             Early detection is also important in managing heart health. Besides prevention, the Ministry of Health has enhanced subsidies for the national Screen for Life programme to encourage more Singaporeans to go for evidence-based screening and follow-up at participating general practitioner clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS). Every Singaporean can undergo a basic health screening for no more than $5, CHAS cardholders pay a discounted $2 and Pioneers pay nothing. 

LAUNCH OF INTERACTIVE CPR KIOSKS

7.             In line with the World Heart Federation’s 2018 global campaign, the theme for today’s event is “My Heart, Your Heart”. Preventing heart disease is more than just about our hearts, but the hearts of our loved ones too. We should also encourage our families and friends to tap on the initiatives and programmes available to take steps towards a heart healthy life. We can work at it together and support one another, so that we can all live longer, better and more heart-healthy lives together.

8.              Today’s event is also in celebration of World Restart a Heart Day. 16 October will be the inaugural World Restart a Heart Day, and the goals are to increase cardiac arrest awareness and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rates. The campaign theme, “All Citizens of the World Can Save a Life”, reinforces the idea that CPR is simple and effective and can be performed by anyone.  In Singapore, 54% of witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims received bystander CPR[2]. Research shows that CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival[3].

9.             I am pleased to learn that the Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) and the Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council will be launching Asia’s first interactive CPR kiosks in various public places across Singapore today. More than 2,300 cardiac arrests occur in Singapore each year[4], and this results in death within minutes unless immediate life-saving treatment is started. This begins with effective CPR, followed by defibrillation if available.

10.          The new CPR self-learning kiosks will ensure that even more people can learn the skills and knowledge necessary to save a life. Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime without warning. We all need to be better prepared and come forward to save a life, who may well be a loved one.

CLOSING

11.          I hope everyone here not only enjoys the activities that SHF has organised, but will take away the important message of keeping your heart healthy through a healthy lifestyle. Let us all make a promise to ourselves and our loved ones to take care of our hearts today. Thank you.

[1] Source: Singapore Heart Foundation, “Statistics” (www.myheart.org.sg/article/about-the-heart-and-heart-disease/statistics/singapore/75)

[2] Source: Unit for Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, Ministry of Health

[3] Source: Singapore Civil Defence Force, “Save-A-Life” (www.scdf.gov.sg/savealife/about ↗ (opens in new tab))

[4] This refers to the number of cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.