Speech By SMS Tan Kiat How At
Opening Of Happy Village @ Mei Ling
Mar 15, 2025
Mr Eric Chua, Grassroots Adviser of Queenstown
Distinguished Partners from National University Health System (NUHS)
National University of Singapore (NUS), and Housing & Development Board (HDB)
Residents of Queenstown
Introduction
Good afternoon. I am delighted to join our Queenstown residents today at the official opening of Happy Village @ Mei Ling. As one of Singapore’s oldest towns, Queenstown has been home to generations of residents.
Today, it is part of an ambitious pilot health district to promote healthy longevity. Launched in 2021, Health District @ Queenstown is a multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together government agencies, healthcare providers, social service partners and community organisations.
This is an important effort for Singapore. We are reaching super-aged status. By 2026, next year, more than one in five Singaporeans will be 65 years and older. By the end of this decade in 2030, around one in four will be 65 years and older.
The needs of our seniors are diverse and go beyond just looking after sickness. We will have to change how we care for and engage our seniors so that they can remain active, happy and healthy. Most seniors want to continue to contribute to society and live their lives with purpose and dignity. Our challenge is to create an environment that supports them in doing so.
The Government is taking the lead with Age Well SG – a comprehensive programme which cuts across multiple areas such as housing, active ageing and care services. However, we cannot do this alone. Collaboration with community partners is essential to make healthy ageing a way of life.
NUS Baseline Study – Holistic approach is on the right track
I was encouraged by NUS’ baseline study on the health and well-being of 5,000 Queenstown residents. The study gathered useful insights that will guide future initiatives to address residents’ needs.
It also reaffirmed our approach that overall health is not just determined by access to quality healthcare. Other factors such as social connections and community bonds also affect our social and mental well-being of our residents, which in turn influence health outcomes.
While most residents above 65 years old are mentally healthy, the study showed that they could be more active socially and physically. In addition, 60% of the respondents trusted most people in their neighbourhood.
This is encouraging and reaffirms the importance of community initiatives that promote social interactions between residents, which can strengthen bonds and cohesion between neighbours. The findings also reinforced the importance of integrated solutions in national health programmes that enable residents to lead more active, connected and fulfilling lives across their life stages.
The Government recognises this with both Healthier SG to support residents in taking proactive steps towards preventive care, and Age Well SG to enable seniors to remain physically and socially active in the community through programming and enhancements to the living environment.
Health District @ Queenstown is another important initiative that affirms our commitment to holistic well-being. Over the past few months, we have launched several initiatives to promote purposeful and sustainable longevity, as well as foster intergenerational bonding within the community.
At the start of this year, we opened Come4TeaLah!, a community engagement hub that serves as a place for residents to come together to learn, interact and co-create activities for healthier lifestyles. Last year, we also launched the FaithActs x Ibasho Margaret Drive Centre, to empower older residents to take the lead in driving community change.
The redeveloped Alexandra Hospital in Queenstown will also open progressively from 2028, enhancing NUHS’s capacity to serve the health needs of the rapidly ageing population in Singapore’s western region.
Launch of Happy Village @ Mei Ling and the Blended Care Team
Today, we are happy to mark another key milestone with the opening of Happy Village @ Mei Ling. It is a shared community space to bring health and social support closer to residents.
At the heart of this initiative is the innovative Blended Care Team, or BCT for short, a first-of-its-kind approach that brings together healthcare professionals such as nurses and allied health professionals, agencies like the Ministry of Social and Family Development, SportSG, the Health Promotion Board, as well as community partners and volunteers, to provide holistic care to residents.
The BCT has been engaging residents since early 2024 at their interim space. The team will work closely with residents to co-develop personalised care plans that address mental, physical and social well-being. The plans will cover a wide range of areas such as increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, managing chronic conditions, and fostering stronger social connections within the community. We hope that the community health manager and local coordinator will become familiar faces to you, and you can visit the Happy Village to seek guidance on your health goals and concerns.
I am pleased to hear that residents have been actively involved in shaping this space. In fact, its name “Happy Village @ Mei Ling” was chosen by residents. I hope that true to the name, this will be a happy place for the community. This is not just a healthcare facility, but a community hub, co-created with residents, for residents.
Many residents have already become regulars at Happy Village @ Mei Ling, including Mr Jalaludin Peer Mohamed and Mr Siew Kum Chuen. Please give them a round of applause.
Mr Jalaludin is a longtime Queenstown resident and an active member of the Happy Village @ Mei Ling walking group, which leads other participants to explore their neighbourhood and shares interesting information of Queenstown's heritage.
In late 2024, the BCT recommended Mr Siew to participate in the walking exercises as he was struggling with leg pain. Mr Siew has since joined the walking group and has noticed improvements in his balance and ability to walk for longer durations.
Happily, Mr Siew has also found new friends within the community, including Mr Jalaludin, who has now become his new kopi kaki. I hope there will many more such connections between residents, friends and neighbours in Queenstown.
Call for Participation
Thoughtful and well-designed spaces like Happy Village @ Mei Ling help to promote social interaction, reduce isolation among seniors and encourage community bonding between neighbours.
It provides accessible social and mental health support for our seniors to age well and independently.
NUHS will be expanding the BCT model to support more residents as it scales up this initiative across the western region.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank NUHS, NUS and all our partners for their dedication and commitment to promoting healthier communities. Congratulations on the opening of Happy Village @ Mei Ling!
And to our Queenstown residents, I encourage you to be active participants in this community. This place is shaped by you, for you and with you. Share your ideas, start your own community groups, and join the ongoing activities at Happy Village @ Mei Ling, such as the weekly walking groups, monthly health talks and nutritional workshops.
Together, let’s shape this place into something meaningful for all of us. Health is built in communities like ours — through care, connection, and collaboration. I look forward to seeing the many great things we will accomplish together at Happy Village @ Mei Ling.
Allow me to say a few words in mandarin for our Chinese-speaking residents here.
大家下午好！很高兴今天能参与 “美玲好友聚乐部” 的开幕仪式。
相信大家对女皇镇保健区并不陌生。它是由国立大学医学组织、新加坡国立大学和建屋发展局共同开创的项目。
在2021年10月，女皇镇被指定为保健区，以测试综合解决方案，让居民在各个生活阶段能保持身心健康，优质的生活素质。
“美玲好友俱乐部” 是我们女皇镇保健区新的里程碑。
在这里，居民可以通过由医疗和社区组织合作组成的社区联合支援团队，得到全方面的保健方案，包括运动，饮食及社交活动。
我鼓励我们的居民来访，与社区团队共同探讨适合自己的保健方案，一起参与或构思活动。让我们一起把 “美玲好友聚乐部” 打造成一个有意义的社区空间，协助邻里的年长者享有健康，活跃的乐龄生活。谢谢！