Official Opening of Temasek Cares KIDS 0-3 Centre Speech by Dr Vincent Ng

Good Morning,

Guest-of-Honour President Keng Yam,

Ang Mo Kio Grassroots Advisors Dr and Mr Darryl David, Former Advisor Mr Seng Han Thong,

Mr , Chairman, Temasek Holdings Mr Richard Magnus, Chairman, Temasek Cares

Mr Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development,

Prof Kenneth Kwek, CEO, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Prof Alex Sia, Chairman, Medical Board, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Prof Chay Oh Moh, Program Director, KIDS0-3.

Executive Committee Members of AMKFSC Community Services Ltd,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I remember not too long ago, a group of us from Temasek Cares, KKH and AMKFSC met in a small meeting room, over at KKH’s women’s tower. What brought us together was the idea to start a service in the community for would-be mothers coming from vulnerable background.

We hope that such a service can reach out to these women early in their pregnancy and offer the necessary level of support, where important developmental and psychosocial needs of both the mother and her young child can be met. Today’s official opening of the Kids0-3 Centre signifies that original idea coming to fruition!

AMKSFC Community Services was first started in 1978 here in Ang Mo Kio. We have always believed in strengthening the role and abilities of the family through various forms of community support initiatives. In our work to support vulnerable families, we have observed that health and social care issues are closely connected.

In some cases managed by our social workers, the social circumstance of the family can affect the health and wellbeing of its family members, especially babies and young children. This is because for such families, the access to proper nutritional and healthcare support could be disrupted due to complex social issues.

On the other hand, there are also families whose social situation is aggravated because someone at home is suffering from health ailments. Either ways, there are far reaching consequences affecting the wellbeing of the family.

Kids0-3 is an excellent example of how the health and social care needs of vulnerable families are bridged via a comprehensive range of support services which the mother and child can tap.

Both health and social care components are carefully incorporated to achieve the desired outcomes. We envisioned that for the families coming on board this program, they will benefit and become more effective in raising their children. And for the little ones, they will in turn be able to grow up healthily and happily.

This program would not be possible without the generous support from Temasek Cares and President’s Challenge. Thank you for your unwavering belief that every child, especially those from vulnerable social circumstance, have access to nurturing resources, so that they too can grow up and develop to their best potential, like any other kids here in .

I also want to thank KKH, our partner-in-service. They have assembled a strong, dedicated and professional team for Kids0-3. It is really awesome to work with likeminded people who are committed to improving the lives of others. Even before Kids0-3, we have always had a close working relationship with KKH. Therefore, I am confident that with this collaboration, we will be able to bring our partnership to an even higher level.

Once again, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone to this official launch. Thank you and please enjoy the rest of our program today.