HPB Takes Senior Citizens Back To School To Raise Health Literacy

Singapore, 10 November 2012: Health behaviour surveillance indicates that only one in 10 Singapore residents between the ages of 50 and 69 were vaccinated for influenza (flu) in 2011.

2. An acute viral infection of the respiratory tract, the flu is often characterised by fever and accompanied with symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, cold, headache and body aches. It is spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. With Singapore’s tropical climate the influenza virus circulates year round, although a higher incidence of the flu can typically be witnessed from April to July and November to January each year. If left untreated, the flu can result in a secondary bacterial pneumonia or lung infection. This is of particular concern for the elderly as pneumonia is one of the top ten causes of hospital admissions.

Back to School to raise health literacy

3. To heighten the health literacy of seniors and empower them to make healthier choices, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) will pilot two initiatives as part of a new programme of its kind in Singapore, at Chua Chu Kang constituency. Themed “Back to School”, the programme was launched by Minister for Health and MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC, Gan Kim Yong, and was developed for residents over the age of 50.

4. Jointly implemented by HPB, Chua Chu Kang Grassroots Organisation and South View Primary School, the programme incorporates a series of classroom based workshops as well as hands-on and experiential educational activities. The workshops cover pertinent health topics to help residents and their care-givers understand the importance of getting the flu vaccination, improve their mental wellbeing, and pick up tips on home safety and how to maintain good oral health.

5. The first initiative of the “Back to School” programme to be piloted is the onsite community-based flu vaccination for needy seniors to reduce their risk of flu and the possible consequences associated with it. The provision of flu vaccination and educational activities are improvements to the existing one-stop integrated screening programme offered by HPB.

6. In addition, survey shows that less than half of the population visits the dentist once a year. This is of concern as there is a high prevalence of poor oral health in Singapore’s elderly population. Preliminary results from HPB’s Functional Screening programme show that about 60% of those screened have poor oral health needing dental follow-up. To address this, HPB is now piloting the second initiative to leverage on the existing infrastructure to open up school dental clinics to help the needy elderly receive regular dental treatment. The launch saw the leveraging of the existing dental clinic in South View Primary School to extend a range of basic dental services to needy seniors on scheduled weekends. It is expected that with the increased convenience and affordability available at such facilities, needy Singaporeans will be able to receive regular dental checkups and the necessary follow-up treatment required.

7. Minister Gan said, “The ‘Back to School’ programme is an innovative and meaningful project that has been made possible through the excellent cooperation and support of the 3P (people, public and private sectors) network. I thank HPB for taking the lead to organise and I am certain that Chua Chu Kang residents will benefit greatly from ‘Back to School’.”

8. Said Ang Hak Seng, Chief Executive Officer, HPB, “If left untreated, flu can lead to serious illnesses such as pneumonia and hospitalisation; however, this can easily be prevented with regular flu vaccination. The uptake of the flu vaccine in Singapore, particularly amongst the needy elderly is low and this is a cause for concern. That is why we are expanding our existing ‘one-stop’ integrated screening programme to include on-site flu vaccination for the elderly. By bringing them back to school, not only do they learn to be healthy but also to have their routine dental check and receive the flu vaccine all under one roof.”

9. The flu vaccination was provided to the needy in partnership with HPB’s corporate partner Sanofi-Aventis Singapore Pte Ltd. Functional screening with falls risk screening and on-site follow-up were also made available as part of the programme, including:

• Screening for osteoporosis together with educational talks and workshops on prevention and management of osteoporosis

• Screening for changes in vision followed by prescription for spectacles (if necessary) by optometrists

• On-site pharmacists to review elderly persons who are on multiple medications as this may be a cause of giddiness resulting in falls

• Completion of a home safety checklist by Senior Health Ambassadors followed by home assessments where necessary by occupational therapists, to detect possible fall hazards and recommend simple changes to the home environment

• Falls prevention talks and workshops for both the elderly and their caregivers

• Healthy lifestyle activities tailored for the elderly such as the Strength Training Exercise Programme (STEP) developed by HPB

10. The ‘Back to School’ programme will be expanded to another two constituencies by March 2013.

Annex 1 Factsheet on Influenza
Annex 2 Factsheet on Functional Screening Services 

Media Release

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