Singapore – Unions awarded with $300,000 by the Union Health Promotion Grant in support of health programs, including mental health, obesity management, chronic disease, and smoking cessation.
The Singaporean government can help mature workers in staying healthy through the recent $300,000 grants. Unions can apply for the said grant in supporting their health programs such as obesity management, chronic disease, mental health, and smoking cessation that need urgent care, diagnosis, and treatment.
An announcement released on Thursday indicated that each union can apply for a certain grant at a given time in supporting and addressing any of the aforementioned health areas.
The grant in support of health programs was launched the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and the NTUC’s U Live Department. The award is expected to be beneficial to thousands of workers from sectors composed of high proportions of mature workers, including the cleaning and security, retail, and transport sectors for the first year.
Heng Che How, the NTUC Deputy Secretary-General said that the grant will allow the NTUC and its affiliates in doing more with unionized firms through workplace health initiatives, which will become an industry-focused or occupation-focused approach. Having healthy workers will result in more productive and more cheerful workforce. The secretary-general pointed out that it will be a “win-win” situation between companies and workers, considering the funding as their urgent care near me sort of thing in accessing health services.
The report also stated that the unions have shown full support of the grant, while the National Transport Workers Union General Secretary Fang Chin Poh said the recent grant was good news. Unhealthy workers will certainly need to visit urgent care clinics for proper diagnosis and medication. However, through the grant workers can be assisted in monitoring their overall health and taking preventive measures from ailments at the same time.
Additionally, Poh emphasized that all details should be worked out thoroughly. He said his union, as well as other unions will start considering methods on how to work with their corresponding companies the best way possible, especially in implementing health initiatives in their workplace.
The grant in support of health programs included health screenings such as the taxi drivers of ComfortDelGro. A portion of the process also included an individualized health coaching session, whereby a health coach an urgent care clinic to the drivers, helping them to develop their 7-month health plan. Included in the support of health programs, cleaners from the Ramky Cleantech also went through a 9-month program as they obtain health tips, individualized health goals as well as action plans towards their existing health conditions.
