SINGAPORE - When he was battling laryngeal cancer in 1997, which affected his ability to speak, Mr Ricky Chiu told himself that he would do something to give back to society if he conquered the disease.
Now chairman of the Singapore Cancer Society's New Voice Club, Mr Chiu, a 61-year-old retiree, works with 100 other volunteers to help laryngeal cancer patients who have had their voice boxes removed during surgery. They help these patients regain their ability to speak through therapy and rehabilitation.
The New Voice Club's efforts, alongside those of eight other individuals, volunteers and volunteer groups from various health care organisations, were honoured today at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The hospital's inaugural Singapore Patient Action Awards on Friday (Oct 30) pay tribute to their work in enhancing the quality of lives of patients in Singapore.
At his opening address, Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min noted that the current pool of 210,000 caregivers in Singapore would continue to grow as Singapore's population rapidly ages. "We need to continue our efforts as community to co-create a better caregiving experience for our patients and their loved ones," he said.
