HPB Voices Reloaded
July - August 2007
The Clinical Standards and Quality Department, Youth Health Division hosted the 14th Biennial School Nurses International Conference from 30 July to 3 Aug 2007 at the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge, Singapore. The conference was held for the first time in Asia since it started in 1981 and was attended by about 130 international delegates from more than twenty countries including Australia, Brunei, China, Croatia, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Poland, the Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vietnam.
School Nurses International provides a forum for nurses around the world working with school children to come together in a stimulating, intellectual and caring environment to share their knowledge and understanding of the emotional, social and physical needs of the school-age child. The theme “Looking Beyond: Charting the Direction in School Nursing,” highlighted the increasingly critical role played by school nurses in keeping up with the global environment of economic, socio-cultural, political and technological dynamism.
The Opening Ceremony on 31 July was attended by more than 200 delegates, guests and HPB staff. It was officiated by the Guest-of-Honour, Mr Heng Chee How, Minister of State for Health who also delivered the Opening Speech. Ms Kathlyn Fritsch, Regional Advisor in Nursing from the Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO), World Health Organisation (WHO) presented the keynote lecture on “Working Together: Health Promoting Schools and School Nurses” at the opening. She also facilitated a workshop session on Health Promoting School with Dr Wong Mun Loke, Deputy Director, Youth Health Programme Development (1), Youth Health Division (YHD) on the same day. Dr Ailan Li, Medical Officer from WPRO-WHO International Health Regulations and Communicable Disease Surveillance delivered another keynote lecture on “Pandemic Flu and Preparation for Disease Outbreaks in Schools” on 1 Aug.
Token to WHO speaker Kathlyn Fritsch
The scientific sessions covered two other plenary lectures and 42 free oral paper symposium presentations. Topics covered included Critical Elements of an Effective School Health Programme; Economic Contribution of a School Health Service to the Country; Integration of Health Services with Schools and Other Primary Healthcare Services; Evidence-based School Health Practice; Harnessing Technology in School Health Practice; and Leadership in School Nursing.
Two educational visits were also arranged for the delegates. The first was a concurrent visit to two Health Promoting Schools namely Gongshang and Yew Tee Primary Schools on 2 Aug and the second was the HealthZone tour on 3 Aug. The social events encompassed a sightseeing tour of Singapore and a visit by country representatives to the Istana during Nurses Day on 1 Aug.
The Opening Dinner and Farewell Gala Nite marked the highlight of the conference. Delegates were welcomed on the night of 30 July with a cultural extravaganza of performances by the Nanyang Polytechnic Chinese Orchestra Percussion Ensemble; and Malay and Indian dance items by school nurses from YHD. The Farewell Gala Nite on 3 Aug was attended by 200 delegates and school nurses from YHD. Besides performances from students and YHD nurses, delegates from the individual countries also participated by dancing and singing their national songs. Everyone from all the participating countries was seen making friends and networking. It was indeed a night to remember as everyone aptly sang “That’s What Friends are For” during the finale.
Organising Committee