SPEECH BY MR TAN KIAT HOW, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION & MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE WORLD STROKE DAY CELEBRATIONS BY STROKE SUPPORT STATION, 29 OCTOBER 2026

Ms Chang Hwee Nee, Chairman of Stroke Support Station (S3),

Board members and management of S3,

Partners and donors,

Stroke survivors, caregivers, families and friends

1        A very good afternoon. It is a real pleasure to join all of you today to commemorate World Stroke Day.

2        Today is not just about raising awareness for stroke. It is also about celebrating the achievements of stroke survivors, and recognising the families, caregivers and friends who have supported them and journeyed with them along the way.

3        This year’s theme, “Beyond Stroke, Beyond Limits”, is especially meaningful. When I see the wonderful achievements of all our award recipients just now, I must say that many of you are fitter than me. You are much better than me. But we all know that a stroke can change someone’s life in an instant. Things we once took for granted — walking, speaking or carrying out daily activities — may suddenly become difficult. Recovery can be long and challenging, and the journey is different for everyone. But while a stroke may change what someone is able to do, it should not define who they are, what they can contribute, or the possibilities that lie ahead.

Prevention and early action

4        World Stroke Day reminds us that prevention and early action matter. We can reduce our risk of stroke by managing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, staying physically active, eating healthily and avoiding smoking. So there are many things we can do to reduce the risk of stroke.

5        And when a stroke occurs, remember F.A.S.T. — Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 995. So it is a very catchy way to remember what we need to do on the symptoms of a potential stroke. Acting quickly can save lives and improve the chances of recovery. So we all know that. But today, I want to focus on something a bit different, or what happens after someone survives a stroke.

Celebrating every step forward

6        Over the past few weeks, many of you have shown us what it means to go beyond limits.

7            At the inaugural S3 Summit Games, stroke survivors challenged themselves through activities involving strength, coordination and teamwork. And I think many of you are very amazing to do the things that you do, not just physically, but the mental discipline, resilience and the willingness to go through it. Through the Sustainable Art Colouring Competition, participants, all of you, expressed your creativity, including by using repurposed make-up to create their artwork.

8        These activities are about more than competition. They are about the confidence to try something new, the satisfaction of overcoming a challenge, and the joy of doing something together.

9        And success looks different for everyone. For some, it may mean winning a medal. For others, it may be finding courage to participate, or discovering a new way to express yourself. Every milestone matters, because every person’s recovery journey is different.

10       That is why I want to congratulate not just the winners we recognised earlier today, but every participant who took part. Give yourself a round of applause. Your achievements remind us that recovery is not only about regaining abilities. It is also about discovering new possibilities.

Helping people live well after stroke

11       When we think about stroke care, we naturally focus on medical treatment and rehabilitation. These are essential. But recovery does not end when someone leaves hospital. Life continues — at home, with family and friends, in our neighbourhoods, and for some, back at work or through volunteering. Our goal, collectively as a society, should not simply be to help stroke survivors regain what they have lost. It is to help them continue living the lives they value.

12       That is why community partners like Stroke Support Station are so important. Through the S3 Summit Adaptive Gym, wellness activities and peer support, S3 helps stroke survivors stay active, rebuild confidence and connect with others. Its new Active Ageing Centre, S3 Canopy, also supports seniors in staying healthy, active and socially engaged. These programmes bridge the journey from clinical rehabilitation back to everyday living, and that matters. And I must say sometimes, it matters more.

13         But supporting recovery also means looking beyond the individual. We often ask: How can we help stroke survivors return to the community? That is an important question. Helping the individual to return to the community. But I think that the rest of us, as part of the community, we need to ask ourselves: How can we make our communities more welcoming and supportive of stroke survivors? Can they continue participating in activities they enjoy? Can they return to work or contribute through volunteering? Can our community spaces be more accessible and inclusive?

14       These are questions for all of us — families, employers, healthcare providers, volunteers and community organisations. Because living well after stroke depends not only on the abilities of the individual, but also on the opportunities and support available around them. We must not only prepare stroke survivors to return to the community. We must also prepare our communities to welcome and support them. That is what makes S3’s contribution valuable.

Closing

15       To all our stroke survivors here today, congratulations on your achievements. Every milestone and every step, every improvement, every willingness to try something different, deserves recognition. To your families and caregivers, thank you for your patience, encouragement and love. I know it is not easy to journey together with a stroke survivor, long nights, difficult days, but I want to just say to all of you that this is something that we recognise, and thank you for inspiring the rest of us. And to S3’s Board, staff, volunteers, donors and partners, thank you for helping stroke survivors find new possibilities after stroke.

16       A stroke may change the course of someone’s life. But it should not define the life they can still lead. That, I think is to me, one important part of “Beyond Stroke, Beyond Limits”. So I want to say a very big thank you to all of you.

17         And on a personal note, I see many of my residents in Bedok, which by the way, Bedok Town and my constituency in particular, is one of the oldest estates in Singapore. And so because of that, I see many older residents and seniors. Many of them are stroke survivors and I see them struggle in daily lives.

18         That is why I believe that it is not just about individual going beyond limits of what they can do or willing to do, and not just the family members and friends around them supporting them. But also importantly, the community, all of us, playing a part to support them and making sure the community is ready to accept them and support them when they get back to daily life. It can be simple things like making sure that programmes are accessible and inclusive, and that we are there to cheer them on.

19       On that note, I just want to thank everyone again, and congratulations again to S3.