In conjunction with the 26th Singapore Pharmacy Congress, the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore organised a public event entitled “Own Your Health - A Public Forum on Responsible Self-Care” on 8th October at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre. The event was successfully held and well received by about 100 members of the public who attended the forum.
The forum was organised in line with this year’s congress theme “Patients – Our Partner in Care”. As the congress focused on bringing patients’ voice to healthcare professionals, so as to allow the latter to understand first-hand from patients and caregivers their needs and expectations of care for now and tomorrow, the forum focused on engaging and empowering the public with knowledge on responsible self-care.
To educate the public on how to care for their own health and well-being safely and appropriately, the organising committee invited a panel of guest speakers consisting of 5 Pharmacists and a Nutritionist. The first talk, entitled “Pharmacist, your Partner in Owning the Health of 3 Generations”, was conducted in a talk show style. Pharmacists Mr Anson Lim, Ms Constance Neo, and Dr Tan Wei Wei were engaged in a lively discussion, moderated by Mr Joel Sim, on what it means to ‘own your health’ and how pharmacists can help patients from different generations to achieve this skill.
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Speakers for first talk (Mr Anson Lim, Ms Constance Neo, and Dr Tan Wei Wei) were engaged in lively discussion on self-care |
Ms Kala Adaikan was explaining diet management in patients with diabetes |
The talk show was followed by two talks on diabetes self-care, in support to Ministry of Health’s “War on Diabetes”. Ms Kala Adaikan, a dietician, taught the participants nutrition therapy in patients with diabetes, while Mr Marvin Sim focused on medication management of diabetes. Following that, pharmacist Ms Lim Xin Hui shared information and tips on dry skin and eczema management.
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| Our emcees for the public forum, Mr Chee Enqing and Mr Giovanni Lim, were giving an introduction to responsible self-care | Participants who won glucometers, sponsored by Roche, were taking picture with our emcees |
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| Mr Marvin Sim was attentively listening to a question from participant | Ms Xin Hui was explaining how to take a good care of skin |
Besides learning from educative talks, forum participants were also able to visit booths from sponsors and received goodies bags containing self-care products. Overall, the forum provided a platform for members of the public to learn more about how they can own their health and clarify various misconceptions and doubts regarding self-care.
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| This forum would not be possible without supports from Republic Polytechnic students volunteers! |
A big thank you to all the volunteers who had contributed to the success of this public forum!
Written by: Franky, Public Forum Chairperson
