Project Big Heart 2017 will include electrocardiogram (ECG), bone mineral density tests, flu vaccinations, chronic disease medical consultations and medication
Jurong Central Grassroots Organisations (GROs), in partnership with Fullerton Health and Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre, will be organising a Health Carnival for Jurong GRC, Yuhua and Bukit Batok residents as part of the enhanced Project Big Heart on 9 April 2017, Sunday. DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister Grace Fu, SMS Desmond Lee, Mr Ang Wei Neng and Mr Murali Pillai, Advisers to Jurong GRC, Yuhua and Bukit Batok GROs will be joining us for this event.
Besides providing free medical consultations and medicine to underprivileged families and elderly residents1 , Project Big Heart has expanded its scope to provide specialist services such as:
(a) Bone Mineral Density Test to detect osteoporosis;
(b) ECG Test and cardiologist consultation for residents to detect abnormal heart rhythms which may suggest underlying cardiac or metabolic disorders;
(c) Flu Vaccination (Fluarix Tetra) for active immunisation of adults and children from 3 years of age for the prevention of four main influenza strains;
(d) House call for residents who are home bound.
“I am pleased that the Project Big Heart (PBH) has expanded in scope, coverage and outreach to benefit all residents with CHAS or PG card in the Jurong family. The ever popular specialist medical screenings have been expanded to cover bone and heart screening, with courtesy from Fullerton Health. I would like to thank the doctors, nurses and volunteers that help to make PBH a success. ” said Mr. Ang Wei Neng, Adviser to Jurong GRC GROs.
“We hope through our mobile health clinics, by bringing healthcare to the doorstep of the underprivileged, we are able to detect and manage chronic diseases from an early stage, to avoid or delay complications, leading to better health outcomes” said Dr Michael Tan, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Fullerton Health. Dr Tan continued, “The cost of medication can be prohibitive to low income families. To address this, we developed the “Gold Card” scheme where eligible holders of these cards are entitled to a lifetime of free consultation and chronic disease medication when they visit our clinic. This would encourage them to receive appropriate and timely care.”
“免费身体健康检查对乐龄人士非常有帮助，尤其是对于没有受过高深教育的老人。他们一般上不注重健康检查， 所以裕廊中每年举办的关心计划健康检查对乐龄人士很好。” said Mdm Chan Siew Hiang who participated in Project Big Heart annually. Mdm Mahani Binte Hassan who has also benefited from the project also commented that “Through the health check-up, we are able to know our health better. Sometimes, I can even make some friends during the carnival. I will definitely love to participate in this program every year!”
Jurong Central residents holding either a Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) or Pioneer Generation (PG) card are able to participate in the Health Carnival. 1,000 residents are expected to benefit from the Health carnival on 9 April 2017.
Started in January 2015, Project Big Heart began as a joint initiative between Jurong Central GROs, Fullerton Healthcare and Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre (Jurong). This project aims to bring both corporate and community partners together, to provide low-income and elderly residents with chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol with free/low cost consultation and medicine to better manage their medical conditions. More than 1,000 patients have been treated since the initiative first started.
Your journalist and photographer are cordially invited for this event. Interviews with the recipients can be arranged. Please refer to Annexes for more details of the programme and the location map.
1 Only residents with CHAS or PG cards are qualified to participate in Project Big Heart.
