Did you know that 1 in 3 women die from heart disease in Singapore and that cardiovascular disease claims eight times more lives than breast cancer? To raise awareness about cardiovascular disease in women, as well as to encourage the community to take charge of their own heart health, National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) organised the Go Red Community Heart Health Carnival for Bukit Batok residents.
During the CPR relay, residents were taught how to perform CPR on a mannequin.
Reaching out to the Community
NUHCS’s Women’s Heart Health Programme held the Go Red Community Heart Health Carnival at Bukit Batok Pavillion on 16 September 2018. Graced by Mr. Murali Pillai, Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency, the event was organised as part of our programme’s community outreach initiative to increase public awareness of cardiovascular diseases in women.
Residents from Bukit Batok came together to join in various heart health activities, which included screening for cardiovascular risks, chronic disease and functional screening (vision, hearing, oral hygiene). We conducted a screening for atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) in the community for the first time. 12-lead electrocardiograms were performed for residents with irregular heart rhythm picked up from the blood pressure machine during screening.
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Colleagues from National University Health System came together to volunteer for the health screening booths.
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Having Fun with CPR
Ms. Janice Kee, Senior Nurse Educator, NUHCS and Ms. Adeline Teo, Nurse Clinician, NUHCS, held the first public cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) relay to educate and empower the public with knowledge of CPR skills in a fun and interactive way. Mr. Pillai and Prof. Tan Huay Cheem, Director, NUHCS, kicked off the relay followed by the residents. In total, 68 residents, including nine children as young as six years old, participated in the CPR relay. The session clocked a total duration of 180 minutes.
Knowledge is Key
The event included performances by various interest groups, comprising the residents from Bukit Batok. | They delivered talks in both English and Mandarin, with topics on CPR; screening for gynaecologic cancer; atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention; and the importance of cardiovascular disease prevention, respectively. The event ended on a high note with a cooking demonstration and a “supermarket tour with a dietitian” from the Health Promotion Board. Our Women’s Heart Health team hopes to continue our efforts in reaching out and educating the public!
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