Monday 10 December 2012

HPB introduces first centre for promoting healthy lifestyles

By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia, 9 Dec 2012

Singapore's Health Promotion Board on Sunday introduced its first Healthy Lifestyle Centre (HLC) - aimed at making it easier to deliver healthy lifestyle messages to residents at the community level.

Launched at Hong Kah North, the concept will be piloted in all 18 constituencies of the South-West district over the next three years before going islandwide. 

South West CDC Mayor and Minister of State for Health, Dr Amy Khor, said one of the important pre-requisites for setting up a healthy lifestyle centre is that the constituency concerned must have a Health Promoting Residents' Committee (RC).

"It would be helpful to residents as it would really provide them with convenience in terms of it being a lot more accessible as it is within the RC itself so they can come for consultation and regular follow up," said Dr Khor.

"We would be more than happy to roll out the Healthy Lifestyle Centres to those constituencies which are ready. They should have the Health Promoting RC first so that we can ride on the Health Promoting RC and set up these Healthy Lifestyle Centres."

The centre will educate residents on the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle and equip them with the knowledge and skills to do so. 

It will provide referrals and facilitate follow-up for individuals who may require them. 

Dr Khor said the centre will be managed by allied health professionals.

Dr Khor said: "The allied health professionals will be able to provide residents with one-to-one consultation, personal advice, taking into consideration their health conditions and customise intervention programmes in terms of the exercise that they could do, nutrition, diet, as well as how to keep mentally well and active. This would further help to encourage the residents to adopt and continue to maintain their healthy lifestyles."

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