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Synopsis :

Recording contains two speeches made at two events by Chua Sian Chin, Minister For Health.
1) Inaugurating National Campaign Committee 1969 of 'Keep Singapore Clean & Mosquito-Free' on 30/08/1969.
2) Opening Ceremony of 'Keep Singapore Clean and Mosquito-Free' Campaign 1969 on 01/10/1969.

1) At the inauguration of the National Campaign Committee Minister for Health recaps the 'Keep Singapore Clean' campaign 1968 is extremely successful. He elaborates on the reasons for the success, which include a combination of acceptance, support and participation by the people, public and private agencies; much hard work, planning and follow-up; reorganisation of Environmental Health Branch; passage of two legislations. Touching on the need for a second mass health campaign in 1969, he says there are two reasons, namely to reinforce the main objectives of 1968 campaign, and to fight  'the mosquito menace - a persistent public health problem', not yet effectively controlled. The 1969 campaign's primary focus is on this mosquito menace - to highlight the sources of the mosquito breeding to create an awareness in individuals and households to take the necessary precautions to prevent further breeding. But Minister recognises the responsibilities in preventing this breeding menace also fall on various public agencies.

The mosquito, he warns, is still a menace although malaria has been 'eradicated from our main island'. The 'nuisance mosquitoes' can cause more serious diseases, such as 'dengue haemorrhagic fever', which leads to 18 deaths out of almost 850 cases in 1968. To handle this problem more effectively, the Ministry has recently reorganised one department and transferring some operations and field officers to another section, and set up a new branch to undertake 'intensive work on effective mosquito control techniques'.

Coming back to the 1969 campaign, he elaborates on some activities and programmes, such as distributing educational materials, competitions and group participation at constituency level, prize-giving ceremony. He is happy that several ministries, statutory boards and private organisations have come out in full support of the campaign.
(Duration: 00:13:57 mins:secs)

2) At the opening ceremony of the 1969 campaign, Minister for Health highlights that everyone in Singapore, from children to adults, in offices, factories and at home, is aware of the 'Keep Singapore Clean' campaign and its meaning as all have been 'exposed to all forms of information and education' of the campaign since October 1968. He is happy his cabinet colleague, Minister for Education Ong Pang Boon, is present at the launch of the 1969 campaign. This means the 'school going population' are participating in the campaign, but more important they - 'the future adult members of our community' - are picking up 'good habits in personal and community' from 'early life'.

First he says the 1968 campaign is successful based on comments from visitors, tourists and foreign industrialists on the 'clean and healthy state' of Singapore. That campaign is part of an integrated plan, whose ultimate objective is to maintain that level of cleanliness permanently. To achieve that target, the Ministry of Health follows up with a re-organisation of its Environmental Health Division, including its manpower on the ground and also providing re-training for them. Minister believes there is 'improved efficiency' and achieved 'tangible improvement'.

Speaking on the 1969 campaign, he explains the need to launch a second one to 'serve as a booster dose' to the 1968 campaign, to ensure the momentum gained is not lost. Secondly the second campaign can focus on a specific problem, that is the 'mosquito menace', a pest but is capable of causing 'dangerous diseases', such as dengue and haemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal. The campaign's approach is to create awareness and educate  everyone - the public at work or at home - on this 'dangerous disease-bearing' pest, its breeding places, and measures to prevent further breeding.

He says the 1969 campaign, like the last one, will involve 'active participation in both the public and the private sectors and from various organisations, including households and schools. He adds the National Campaign Committee has drawn up its programme of extensive activities to 'drive home to every one the importance of not allowing the mosquitoes to breed in public place, in the homes, and even 'in broken down drains, a neglected flower pot or a few water-filled cans'. The various activities allow everyone to participate and to learn, and also include inspection of premises and buildings by special teams. Educational materials to reinforce the message will also be distributed. He urges full cooperation of all, including the householder to ensure the campaign succeeds in 'eradicating the mosquito menace'. He is confident that at the end of the 1969 campaign, it has taken 'another gigantic step towards making our Singapore a cleaner and healthier place to live in'. He adds the 'responsible public attitude that did much to transform Singapore into a clean and green city will manifest itself once again'.

Minister for Education, Ong Pang Boon, gives a brief speech after Minister for Health.
(Duration: 00:14:56-00:36:16 mins:secs)