The Launch Of Singapore Planned Parenthood Association's Overseas Workers AIDS Awareness Programme

22 Mar 2009

By Hawazi Daipi

1. This evening, we launch the Overseas Workers AIDS Awareness Programme, organised by the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association, and in collaboration with Action for AIDS and the Health Promotion Board. This programme aims to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS among overseas workers in Singapore.

2. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization, an estimated 33 million adults were living with HIV at the end of 2007 . In the same year, 2.5 million people were newly infected and 2.1 million people had died of AIDS.

3. In Singapore, more than 90% of people who are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are between the ages of 20 and 59 years. These are the prime years of working life. It is therefore very important for employers and workers to be our partners in the fight against AIDS. We want them to be aware of what this disease is, and how they can protect themselves against it.

4. The Health Promotion Board and its partners have been working hard to educate all of us about HIV/AIDS. You might have seen posters and postcards, or heard radio programmes talking about this disease. As part of this comprehensive education programme, we now have the Overseas Workers AIDS Awareness Programme, which reaches out to overseas workers in Singapore.

The OWAA Programme

5. Under this Programme, a series of talks on HIV/AIDS will be conducted to overseas workers. Tonight, we will launch the Programme with an informational talk in Tamil about HIV/AIDS,

6. These talks will cover the basic facts about HIV/AIDS and clarify common myths and misconceptions associated with HIV. The talks will also cover how HIV is transmitted, and what happens when a person is infected with HIV. We hope that after hearing the talk, you will have a better idea about how HIV is passed from one person to another, and how you can take steps to protect yourself from getting infected. 

7. In addition to these talks, workers can also receive information on AIDS at the workplace when their company implements a workplace AIDS awareness programme for employees. Talks, exhibitions and distribution of informational materials are some of the components of the workplace AIDS awareness programme.

8. We are also very happy to be working with community partners such as the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association, the Singapore Contractors Association, the Hindu Endowment Board and the Sikh Advisory Board. They play a critical role in helping more overseas workers get access to information on HIV/AIDS.

9. It is my pleasure to launch the Overseas Workers AIDS Awareness Programme here tonight. I hope that you find tonight’s talk interesting and informative. 

10. Thank you and enjoy the rest of the evening.