“We need a mindset change — we have always valued wealth over health. Now we have to pursue both health and wealth together,” said Dean, Professor Chia Kee Seng at the biennial Singapore HEALTH (Helping Employees Achieve Life-time Health) Award 2017.
Initiated by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), the award recognises organisations with strong commitment to promote workplace health. This year, 223 firms and individuals received awards at the ceremony, which was held on Tuesday, 10 October at the ITE College Central campus in Ang Mo Kio.
In his speech, Prof Chia recalled a man he had met when he was a young doctor. The man had worked in a factory producing tombstones and suffered from breathlessness. Prof Chia took an x-ray of the man’s chest and realised that instead of air, his lungs were filled with granite dust. This condition called ‘stone lung’ had developed because of his work.
Patients like this highlight the importance of workplace health promotion in increasing the wellbeing and productivity of employees.
Read more about the Singapore Health Award 2017 and this year’s winners: