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Signatories for the MOU (left to right): Associate Professor Chua Yeow Leng, SingHealth Group Director of International Collaboration Office, Professor Ivy Ng, SingHealth Group CEO, Ms Anita Fam, SIF Governor, and Ms Jean Tan, SIF Executive Director.

On 7 April this year, the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd (SingHealth) formalised their longstanding partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the SGH Museum.

The SIF and SingHealth have been strong partners, having worked together to raise the standards of medical care in the region. In the past six years alone, SingHealth has sent more than 200 medical professionals to participate in 19 SIF projects. The combined efforts of both organisations have positively impacted thousands of lives in seven countries thus far, with very tangible results. For example, following SIF’s Paediatric Emergency project in Cambodia, the infant mortality rate at the National Paediatric Hospital fell from 57 to 30 percent in 2012. Such encouraging results have spurred both organisations to continue with our collaboration in developing communities.

“It’s part of [SingHealth’s] mission to improve the lives of patients, whether in Singapore or around the region,” said Professor Ivy Ng, SingHealth Group CEO. “This MOU formalises what both our organisations are driven to do…[we are] focused on how we can improve the lives of others.”

Professor Ng and Jean conversing.

“We believe we can make a better world, but not alone,” said Associate Professor Chua Yeow Leng, Group Director, International Collaboration Office, SingHealth. “The SIF epitomises the care that Singapore has for our neighbours, and many SingHealth partners and individuals have shown their care [through SIF] in the past.”

Aligned with the SIF’s vision of making friends for a better world, the SIF’s friendship with SingHealth looks set to continue making the world a better place, one project at a time.

As Ms Anita Fam, SIF Governor, sums up: “Such a longstanding partnership would not be possible if we were not united in a common cause - to raise the standards of medical care in the region. Training healthcare professionals in local communities and having them train their peers - ensuring that the impact continues and is sustained long after each project’s conclusion.”

The SIF and SingHealth are committed to effecting more positive change through their partnership

These impressions of the SIF-SingHealth MoU signing ceremony were contributed by SIF staffer Amylia Zainal.