HPB Voices Reloaded
Jul - Aug 2008
This section features events happening around HPB and the unique experiences of our HPB colleagues.
A Bird’s Eye View from the Southern Ridges:
A hiking adventure by HPB's Walking Enthusiasts
By Adeline Yeo, HPB's Walking Enthusiast
“Waaah, 8 am... Sure or not? So early?!” these were some of the comments we received when WE (aka Walking Enthusiasts) sent out the email notification on the Southern Ridges Walk. Surprisingly, on that bright and early morning, everybody was there on time at the meeting place at Harbourfront MRT.
After a briefing and welcome speech by Jalal and Lubna, the WE leaders led the group along Telok Blangah Road in the fresh morning air. We walked up the hill along Wishart Road, which was decked with colourful panels. As we passed by a prata shop, wafts of fragrant curry carried by the cool morning breeze drifted to our noses. Despite the healthy yoghurt and banana giveaways during breakfast, our stomachs started growling...
Along the scenic Pender Road, we were first greeted by views of the surrounding low-lying private houses, followed by the ECP flyover, and finally the picturesque Sentosa Straits. When we reached the top of the hill, we took a few photos at the Danish Seamen’s Church to celebrate our accomplishment.
Marching on, we finally reached the much-anticipated Henderson Waves. Everyone rushed to take pictures of the monolithic sign showing the start of the waves.
The wave-like structures offered many photographic opportunities - the group’s three very professional photographers - Teow Kiat, Lubna and Bismillah - were busily snapping away as everyone flashed their best “Konica” smiles.
From then on, it was an easy walk down Telok Blangah Hill towards Alexandra Arch. When we reached the top of the stairway, everyone just stopped short and gasped... The view was simply awesome! We could see all the way across the HDB flats to PSA building and the red-brick Marketing House. As we ascended “the ramp”, we had fun taking pictures of everyone at different levels.
The sky gradually darkened as we crossed Alexandra Arch towards Hort Park. Some of the ex-staff of the Training and Health Education Department (THE) of MOH started reminiscing about their good old days at THE. After our lunch stopover where we had yummy fried rice or bee hoon, we continued trooping up Kent Ridge Hill, walking along the Canopy Bridge which oversees the Gillman Heights. By then, everyone’s energy was at an all-time low as we trudged up the slightly muddy slopes.
Reflections At Bukit Chandu atop Kent Ridge Hill was a nice surprise. A restored colonial bungalow amidst the lush Opium Hill where the legendary Pasir Panjang battle was fought, it houses exhibits relating to the Japanese invasion of Singapore. After visiting the museum, we concluded our walk at the foot of the hill. It was a fruitful walk with calories burnt and friends made!
A Researcher's Diary:
Unique Field Experience at Xishuangbanna, Southern Yunnan
(Karen is currently pursuing her PhD in Sociology)
By Karen Cheong, Research & Evaluation Department,
Research & Strategic Planning Division
I was promised “a week-long field trip filled with great learning opportunities, challenges and fun in Xishuangbanna, Southern Yunnan” by my supervisor from the Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, on a module titled “Evaluation of Global Health Programme”.
During this field trip, my course mates and I were privileged to work at some of the Dai ethnic villages in Menghai county, one of the three main counties in Xishuangbanna.
The Dai villagers lead a very simple lifestyle. They toil in the fields during the day and their main entertainment at night is watching television programmes.
The villages are very hospitable as it is an honour for them to have guests from the city. Although it came to me as a surprise, it is common practice for the health educators to put up at the homes of their local hosts. The health educators even cook and clean house for their hosts!
This is one way villagers cook and store meat
Though I had conducted a few qualitative studies in HPB, conducting interviews and moderating focus group discussions in Mandarin was no mean feat! For once, I was appreciative of Singapore’s bilingual education system.
He snored very loudly while I was moderating a focus group discussion
Conducting studies in a rural setting was also a far cry from doing work in an urban setting. Torches, batteries and insect repellents were absolute necessities for group discussions and interviews at the villagers’ houses, where power supply was often low and lights dim. To add to the fun, recording of focus group discussions were often done with the accompanying cacophony of snoring pigs, quacking ducks, chuckling chickens and of course, the buzzing mosquitoes!
I was also privileged to be able to observe a HIV prevention programme live! Announcements on outreach activities e.g. skits were made via a loud hailer and villagers would soon gather around in eager anticipation of the activities. At the end of these activities, villagers often put up dance performances to express their appreciation to the health educators. The enthusiasm and commitment of the health educators and the villagers’ eagerness to learn was so moving and inspiring!
Villagers dancing to the tune of a popular music in Mao Zedong era
This field trip to the Dai ethnic villages was indeed a fulfilling and enriching one! I look forward to sharing and applying all that I have learnt when I return from my studies.
Villagers all dressed up for a wedding function
Operation Smile: Changing Lives One Smile at a Time
By Staff Nurse Katherine Tan Gek Tee
Physicians' Training Program 2008
Operation Smile is a worldwide children’s medical charity to repair children’s cleft lips and cleft palates. It was founded by Dr William P. Magee, Jr, a plastic surgeon and his wife, Kathleen, a nurse and clinical social worker.
When the Magees first traveled to the Philippines in 1982 with a group of medical volunteers to repair children's cleft lips and cleft palates, they discovered hundreds of children ravaged by deformities and although they helped many children, the volunteers were forced to turn away the majority of those who sought help. It was then that Operation Smile was born.
Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, Operation Smile coordinates more than 30 Medical Mission sites in 26 countries annually. Every year, it reaches out to about 10,000 children, creating smiles, changing lives and healing humanity!
Katherine and boy post-operation
My involvement with Operation Smile dated back to 1993 when I worked for a plastic surgeon in private practice. I went on my first mission trip to Shantou, China in 1994 and have been going regularly for 2-3 trips yearly as and when the opportunity arose. Volunteering in China has made me realise that being effectively bilingual is definitely an asset!
With some of Operation Smile team members
Since 1982, thousands of medical and nursing staff from Central and South America, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia have been volunteering their time, skills and efforts unstintingly to bring a smile to these children. One such volunteer was Lucy Naivasha Kabii, a Kenyan nurse who unfortunately passed away from complications of Malaria. In honour of her contributions, the Lucy Naivasha Kabii Nursing Award of Excellence was created. The first recipient of the Award was a fellow Kenyan, Julia Kibe.
Katherine at Simulation Lab in Norfolk
In May this year, I was privileged to be invited to attend the Physicians’ Training Program in Norfolk, where I was the second nurse to be presented the Lucy N Kabii Nursing Award. This has further convinced me that volunteering at Operation Smile is the right thing to do as I can help make a difference to the lives of some children and their families!
