SingHealth’s Healthier EAST @ SG Joins WHO’s Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities
Singapore’s SingHealth just hit a big win! Its Healthier EAST @ SG program, a teamwork effort across multiple agencies, has officially joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC). They announced this exciting news at the opening of the eighth SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress 2025. Mr. Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation, joined as the guest of honor, celebrating alongside reps from over 10 partners, including the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the People’s Association.
This move puts Eastern Singapore on the map in the global push for healthy ageing. The initiative reaches more than 610,000 residents in areas like Bedok, Changi, Marine Parade, and Tampines—where nearly 28% of folks are 60 and older. Now, Eastern Singapore stands shoulder-to-shoulder with over 1,700 cities in 60 countries, serving 330 million people worldwide.
What Does This WHO Network Mean for Healthy Ageing?
Healthier EAST @ SG focuses on building an inclusive spot for everyone, especially seniors, to thrive. It teams up with healthcare pros, community groups, and social services to tackle eight key areas: housing, transport, outdoor spaces, community support, health services, social participation, respect and inclusion, plus communication and info access.
Being part of GNAFCC lets Eastern Singapore spot roadblocks to healthy ageing and roll out smart fixes. Seniors can stay active and feel valued in their neighborhoods. Plus, the network opens doors to swap ideas with cities around the world. SingHealth can check how its programs are doing, stay accountable, and tweak plans with fresh, evidence-based tricks. It even spotlights Singapore’s successes on the global stage.
Prof. Lee Chien Earn, SingHealth’s Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer for Regional Health System, shared his excitement: "Joining the WHO GNAFCC links us to cities everywhere chasing healthy ageing. Through Healthier EAST @ SG, we’re pumped to add to this global goal and learn from it. We can’t wait to lead the way in making local spots more inclusive—and maybe spark ideas abroad too."
Two Decades of Transforming Eastern Singapore
SingHealth has led the charge for nearly 20 years, pulling together partners to create age-friendly programs that boost residents’ well-being. A standout is the 2021 launch of the HealthUP! movement. It kicked off with over 200 pilot participants and delivered real results—like folks in SportSG programs shrinking their waist sizes by 1.4cm to 3.6cm after 18 weeks. Impressively, 73% who set a health goal hit at least one, and 78% in surveys noticed better health and happiness.
Today, HealthUP! supports over 170,000 residents across Eastern Singapore. It shows what happens when healthcare, social services, and wellness teams collaborate on community activities. People get tools to nail preventive health goals, from workouts and healthy eats to screenings, vaccines, and quitting smoking. SingHealth’s Wellbeing Coordinators offer ongoing telehealth, digital tips, and personalized advice. It ties in with the national Healthier SG push, keeping chats going between residents and their doctors for shared wins.
Another cool project? Turning urban spots into feel-good zones for mental health, family bonds, and nature vibes. Take the Pelatok Art Farm—a collab between SingHealth, Changi General Hospital, local grassroots groups, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), SAA Architects, and National Parks Board (NParks). Over 300 residents helped design it through workshops and surveys. Those who joined reported stronger community ties, closer nature connections, and happier moods. This model could activate more unused spaces in the east, letting even more people join in.
Spotlight on the SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress
The congress is Singapore’s top biennial event for healthcare and science pros. This year’s theme, "Defining Tomorrow’s Medicine through Research and Innovation: From Ideas to Impact," drew about 2,500 attendees. They dove into topics from lab breakthroughs to real patient wins, with over 380 abstracts presented across two days.
A Quick Look at SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre
This powerhouse blends SingHealth’s clinical muscle with Duke-NUS Medical School’s smarts to deliver top-notch care and experiences. Through programs, disease centers, and joint institutes, they speed up innovations, share knowledge, and train future healthcare stars. SingHealth runs Singapore’s biggest public healthcare network, covering acute hospitals, specialty centers, polyclinics, and community hospitals with over 40 specialties. Duke-NUS, the country’s leading grad medical school, trains clinician-leaders and drives research in five signature programs and 10 centers to transform lives across Asia and beyond.
For more details, check out www.singhealthdukenus.com.sg, www.singhealth.com.sg, or www.duke-nus.edu.sg.
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