Panel to advise HPB on women's health

Panel to advise HPB on women's health

Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for Health, is on the Ministerial Committee on Ageing (MCA), set up in 2007 to promote active ageing among Singapore’s greying population.

Obesity, binge drinking, smoking. These are issues women below the age of 40 need to be on guard against. And older women should be mindful of the need for screening for illnesses such as breast and cervical cancers.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) and the newly formed Women's Health Advisory Committee aim to raise awareness of these health issues.

The committee, which is made up of 14 women leaders, will assist the HPB in refining its health programmes for women.

Minister of State for Health and Manpower, Dr Amy Khor, said women must make the effort to remain healthy and happy as they play multiple roles and have a longer life expectancy.

"It is important for women to take care of their health and adopt good health habits early, so that they do not just live long, but they live well, have a good quality of life, and have peace of mind. Having a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, healthy eating habits and regular health screenings, will (help women to) avoid or delay the onset of chronic disease," Channel NewsAsia quoted her as saying.

Only 40 per cent of local women aged 50 to 69 years old undergo regular breast cancer screening. In Finland, the rate is 84 per cent.

A comprehensive booklet on women's health, "My Journey to Better Health" was also launched. HPB aims to distribute 30,000 copies of the booklet by November.

 

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