马善高国会陈述：新加坡出台48项举措促进妇女和儿童健康，涉及产前、产中和产后

Even as we are investing in more support for our seniors, we are also enhancing support for our young families to have healthy and happy lives.

In 2021, we set up the task force on Child and Maternal Health and Well-being, or CAMH in short. Comprising an interdisciplinary team of policymakers and practitioners from across the health, social and education domains, the task force came together to explore how children and their families can attain good health and well-being.

I thank the task force members for their hard work over the past three years. They engaged parents and caregivers, brainstormed with partners and developed sound recommendations. Relying on evidence-based research, such as the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes, or GUSTO, study, we were able to formulate ways to improve the health of our children and families.

I am glad to announce that the task force has completed the development of the CAMH Strategy and Action Plan.

Recommendations under the Strategy have been translated into 48 initiatives under the Action Plan. Currently, 28 out of the 48 initiatives have been or are being implemented, while the remainder are under review in preparation for launch. A detailed report will be shared later this year.

Let me now speak on two recommendations that exemplify our commitment to strengthen support for children and their families.

One of these recommendations is to enhance support for couples from pre-conception and pregnancy, through to parenthood.

Many parents-to-be recognise that antenatal care is important as they prepare for the birth of their child. However, not all parents have access to resources and support.

Therefore, we have looked into increasing access to antenatal care, and I am pleased to share that we will be piloting antenatal education classes for parents within the community. Those who attend these classes will have convenient access to subsidised antenatal support close to their homes.

Couples can look forward to learning about nutrition and exercises during pregnancy and after delivery and be equipped to care for their newborn. The classes will be conducted via a hybrid model, incorporating online lectures and videos, so that parents can easily access these useful resources virtually.

It is important that we support and celebrate active fathering too. In collaboration with the Families for Life Council and Centre for Fathering, we are strengthening the participation of fathers in parents’ support groups in schools. This will provide more avenues for fathers to share and learn valuable parenting insights and tips.

We will continue to support fathers who may require more support in their parenthood journey.

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At the COS debate last year, I shared how the National University Hospital (NUH) expanded the Women’s Emotional Health Service Plus (WEHS+) pilot, extending mental health support services to fathers in need. This support is important at the antenatal and postnatal stages as they take on the new role of a father. This pilot has also since extended support for mothers up to six years postnatal, up from the previous one year.

We want couples to feel supported and assured during their parenthood journey, even and especially when they meet challenges.

Let me share how Ms S and her husband benefited from the programme. As Ms S experienced postnatal depression and anxiety, the team followed up with regular check-ins and emotional support to ensure she was coping well. The team also ensured that her husband received timely assistance and treatment.

Both are faring better now, and the good news is that Ms S is expecting another baby. I am glad that this programme has given them the confidence and reassurance that they are well-supported in their journey.

Over time, Ms S and her husband will be able to transit to Family Nexus, which supports families with children aged zero to six, enabling them to access cross-domain services at a one-stop community touchpoint near their homes.

Last year, I announced the launch of the Family Nexus pilot at Our Tampines Hub. I am delighted to update that the Family Nexus pilot has been rolled out to three more sites in Singapore, at Choa Chu Kang, Punggol and Sembawang polyclinics, to extend support to more families.

Helping our children pick up good habits for good health during their formative years paves the way for better long-term health. Therefore, we want to empower parents with more resources and information to nurture healthy habits in their children. This, too, is one of the task force’s recommendations.

During our engagements, many parents shared that they were on the lookout for accessible and reliable information to support them in nurturing their children. We shared about Parent Hub in 2022, a one-stop resource portal to provide timely information on pregnancy and parenting to families. Since its launch, Parent Hub has garnered over three million views, with over 100,000 page views monthly. We will continue to expand on these resources, such as by making new interactive evidence-based resources on nurturing healthy eating in childhood and other relevant topics available on the portal.

To better support individuals in nurturing healthy eating habits in children from young, I am happy to share that KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the College of Paediatrics and Child Health Singapore, launched the Singapore Guidelines for Feeding and Eating in Infants and Young Children last month. These guidelines support those involved in the care of children aged zero to two in nurturing healthy eating habits, providing goals and milestones in the transition from infant feeding to eating as a young child. I urge parents, caregivers and healthcare professionals to refer to these guidelines to promote a positive environment for the adoption of healthier eating habits in our young children, which would be beneficial to them in years to come.

We will make resources available beyond the early years. Students will be able to access online interactive resources through MOE’s Student Learning Space this year. These resources will help students learn more about healthier eating habits and ways to have a balanced meal. These efforts are aligned with the GUSTO research study which shows that children’s eating behaviours, such as portion size, food choice and nutrition, are key risk factors for childhood obesity. Allow me to summarise in Malay.

(In Malay): The MOH has developed plans for strategies and action for the health and well-being of seniors, as well as children and mothers.

We have completed the development of CAMH, which focuses on various stages from prenatal to adolescence, developing initiatives to support children and families in areas, such as prenatal care, parental support and healthy eating habits.

These initiatives will empower and support our families in caring for our seniors and children.

(In English): In closing, families are fundamental to enabling our seniors to age well and to fostering a nurturing environment for our children to grow, learn and thrive. We will continue to strengthen support for families. Together, we can build a society where every family is empowered to grow and age well and enjoy a life of health and well-being.

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