Creating a healthy community for all

Focus Area 5

On 12 March 2023, M³ established community health as its fifth focus area. Supported by Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Ministry of Health (MOH), it aims to empower the Malay/Muslim community to take charge of their health. M³ Focus Area 5 (FA5) is led by Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Ministry of Digital Development and Information and Ministry of Health. FA5 focuses on the following priority areas:

Priority 1: Support healthy ageing

• Malay/Muslim community partners promote and organise preventive health and active ageing programmes, such as weekly exercise sessions, health talks on mental well-being, and functional screening to tackle health issues through active participation and promote healthy ageing among Malay/Muslim seniors.

• M³ towns coordinate with HPB and MOH to conduct outreach efforts for Malay/Muslim seniors as part of Healthier SG enrolment efforts.

Priority 2: Improve screening rates

• Community partners raise awareness of health screening programmes offered under Healthier SG and address common concerns and screening misconceptions through talks to encourage Malay/Muslim residents to sign up for recommended cancer and chronic disease screenings.

• Malay/Muslim partners work HPB, MOH, Muslim Healthcare Professionals Association (MHPA) and other whole-of-government partners to increase chronic disease screening through health events and talks for the community.

Priority 3: Adopt a healthy lifestyle

• Malay/Muslim partners organise Saham Kesihatan and other health-promoting programmes. Saham Kesihatan is a community-led initiative supported by HPB which offers tailored, culturally sensitive health programmes. It complements the Healthier SG movement, promoting individual health ownership through prevention and active living.

• M³@Towns and JKJU [CRMM1] members partner with HPB to promote healthier eating habits, especially during Ramadan and Hari Raya. They distributed grocery packs featuring Healthier Choice Symbol products to Malay/Muslim residents to reduce sugar and sodium consumption. Healthier SG talks, enrolment sessions, and talks on preparing nutritious, affordable meals for families with young children were also organised.

• The Get Fit for Haj programme, a joint effort by HPB and Muis, supported by the Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore (AMTAS) and the Muslim Healthcare Professionals Association (MHPA), aims to better prepare pilgrims for their Haj journey. This three-month programme, facilitated by General Service Agents and HPB, includes strength exercises, brisk walking, and health talks. Doctors from MHPA conduct sessions on improving fitness and adopting healthy lifestyles, ensuring pilgrims are physically ready for the Haj pilgrimage.

Priority 4: Reduce smoking prevalence

• Malay/Muslim organisations raise awareness of community resources through educational sessions aimed at helping individuals quit smoking and vaping.

Priority 5: Improve mental well-being

• Malay/Muslim partners tap on existing resources such as HPB's peer support workshops and 'Selangkah Bersama', an interactive Malay theatre programme highlighting resilience, well-being, and positive role modelling. Additionally, HPB's MindSG, a comprehensive online portal, offers self-care tools and resources to help individuals understand and manage their health more effectively.

Jaga Kesihatan, Jaga Ummah

HPB introduced the Jaga Kesihatan, Jaga Ummah (JKJU) (Look after your health, look after your community) network in 2017. It is made up of representatives from M³@Towns, Muis, MENDAKI, Malay Activity Executive Committees (MAECs), mosques, Malay/Muslim Organisations, MHPA, healthcare sectors, corporates and other Whole-of-Government and social service organisations. With the set-up of M³ FA 5, the JKJU network becomes integral to the overall efforts under FA 5.

The network offers a wide range of health promoting programmes to improve the residents’ health and well-being, supporting the Malay/Muslim community in leading healthy lifestyles.

HPB leverages the JKJU network to promote healthy lifestyles within the Malay/Muslim community across the five priority areas of M³ FA 5 and bring together the efforts of the community partners. This also supports the overall Healthier SG efforts, which aim to empower Singaporeans to adopt healthy lifestyles and support them with more health-promoting programmes through collaborations with community partners.