Report on Clementi Community in Singapore

History

Clementi located at the west region of Singapore. The name of ‘Clementi’ came from ‘Clementi Road’. In the past, this road was named after the first British High Commissioner whose name is Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.

Demographic Data

According to 2010 Singapore national statistics report, there are 91, 874 population in Clementi. 11. 6% of population are above 65 years old and 14. 7% of population are between 0-14 years old. The dependency ratio is 0. 35. Dependency Ratio was defined how the non-work population dependent on the work group. Ansah et al (2015) reported as increasing the aging population, the dependency ratio will be higher. At that time, Singapore will demand more foreign workers. In addition, Singaporeans’ life expectancies are increasing, the average of life expectancy of female is 85. 2 years and the male is 80. 7 years. Bastable (2014) stated one of the reason is that the female wound like to seek healthcare services than male. Ansah et al (2015) reported another reason is that the males are more likely to conduct the higher risk work than females.

The Straits

Time published one in four of 65 years old Singaporeans suffered from one chronic disease. In Singapore, there is 2. 3% of residents aged from 18 to 69 years old were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD). With increasing rapidly aging population, the elderly has to spent more money on his CKD. Meanwhile, the Singapore government must make more efforts to deal with CKD. ReligionBuddhism population rank first in Clementi community as shown in chart. Buddhism believed faith and self-cultivation. Kuah (2016) stated Buddhist organization plays an important role in caring of elderly. Buddhism community opened the first hospital: Ren Ci Hospital. Christianity population rank second in Clementi. It forms 22. 3% of population. Christian believed self-perfection and self-help. They are used to communicate and try to build up a good relationship with their god. For instance, some of the Christian try to give up smoking as they believed their god would happy with that.

Most of Malay Singaporeans are Islam. There is 12. 2% of Islam population in Clementi. Islam plays a significant role for the community. Lai (2008) stated that some mosques provide food vouchers or small amounts of money for the poor temporarily, they teach the poor to gain new skills for a long-term assistance. What they have done are based on their “Gotong-royong” spirit, that spirit lead to make effort to reduce people’s burdens and help their people make a difference in life.

In Clementi, 9. 5% of residents believed Taoism. Yin and Yang is the basic concept for the Taoism. They believed people should live naturally and peacefully via taking the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Even the prime minister Lee Hsien long also said TCM plays important role in Singaporeans. Eu Yan Sang Clinic is one of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics which located in Clementi block. Most of Chinese patients with CKD will try the TCM clinics. CKD patients also seek help from TCM. However, the TCM may result in nephrotoxic and drugs interaction with western medication.

Hinduism forms 5. 0% of population in Clementi. The Sri Mariamman Temple is one of the Hindu temples nearly Clementi. The Hindu temple provided medical counselling services for the elderly poor. It also provides a haven for the new Indian immigrants. 19. 4% of population have no religion. Lai stated (2008) most probably those people are free-thinker or Confucianism. Even though the Confucianism is not a religion, this believe focus on the harmony relationship between person and their social. Harmony relationship contributes to health social life for the believer. Environment DataClementi dialysis center provide dialysis for nearly end-stage renal disease patient. Frontier healthcare clinic located in the Clementi shopping mall, it includes primary health care such as health screening, and chronic disease management. There is an attractive swimming complex and a sports hall in Clementi. Clementi Public library allow people to enjoy relax time and get pleasure from reading. Hawker center located in Clementi provides food for nearly residents.

All of the facilitators make the residents life more convenient. However, The Straits Times (2017) reported Clementi is the 5th noise place in Singapore according to the National University of Singapore (NUS) study. The noise pollution may result from the transportation shopping mall. Even though the hawker centers play a significant role in Singapore, some of residents Claimed in The Straits Times (2017) that may result in noise pollution as well. Socio-economicIn Clementi, 21. 1% of residents earn less than $3000 per month, 76. 1% of residents stay in four-room flats, and only 27. 9% of resident hold the university qualification. Lower-income households refers to the gross monthly income less than $3000, stay in 4-room HDB flats, and do not hold the university qualification. The MSF (2016) reported the lower-income households mainly do the service-related work such as market sales worker, cleaner or machine operators. In relation to the Clementi, it may reveal most of residents do the service-related work.

Ng et al (2012) stated the lower socioeconomic groups are less likely to participant the health promotion program. Those people usually lived in four-flats with less education and lower income less than $ 3000. Lack of time and interest are the main reasons for the lower income groups. The lower socioeconomic groups tend to work hard and pay more attention to their basic needs such as the food, house and transportation fees. Ng et al (2012) suggested help those people to identified the barriers, provide access to health care may be more useful. Furthermore, there is 37% of residents are economically inactive. A study suggested that unemployed person have the higher risk to developing chronic disease such as dementia compared to full-time employment. Prolonged economic inactive may result in the higher risk for poor physical and mental health problems.

Strengths and Weakness of community

Community facilities play significant role to enhance residents’ daily life. Such as the Hawker centers provides food for almost all Singaporeans, but it may result in noise pollution as mentioned early. High level of oil, salt, and sugar intake is the main risk factor for hypertension, diabetes mellitus and high cholesterol. Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB) cooperates with hawker canter encourage people to choose healthy food. Swimming complex and sports hall provide a good place for people to do regular exercise, but the government need large amount of money to maintain all the service. As we mentioned early, high proportion of residents in Clementi with the lower education level do service-related or labor work. Those working places offer jobs for those people. However, the woke may lead to chronic disease, such as lower back pain. Long term lower back pain leads to work disability and increase financial burden to family and society.