I believe none of us needs to be convinced of the benefits of being healthy. Everyone wants to stay fit and healthy. So, you start with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle reduces the chance of getting sick.

The Government launched the National Healthy Lifestyle Campaign in the early 1990s. The aim of this long-running campaign is to make healthy living a way of life. It is long-term because it takes a lot of persuasion and effort to change a person’s lifestyle.

You do not need to spend lots of money buying expensive equipment or joining sports clubs to stay healthy. There are simple things you can do to keep fit.

Many Singaporeans engage in some forms of exercises such as jogging, dancing, swimming, playing games and sports, etc. But most Singaporeans do not exercise regularly. They would sometimes over-exercise, tire themselves out, and stop exercising for a couple of days. This is not the way to reap the benefits of exercises. We should allocate a little time each day to exercise. Even simple exercises like stretching your hands, legs and body, will keep you healthy.

How many of us can control our eating habits? Someone once told me that it is like making war to himself when he tries to control his eating habits. This story reminds me of the television series, Under One Roof. In the series, Tan Ah Teck was constantly reminded not to eat "garbage food" which is bad for health.

Bad eating habits such as excessive amounts of red meat and fatty foods will harm our bodies. Our blood vessels will be clogged up and we may face the danger of having heart attacks or strokes. It takes a lot of courage and determination to change one’s eating habit. And this habit needs to be cultivated from young. So, parents, please make sure that your kids have good eating habits if you want your children to be healthy.

One of the most worrisome matters affecting young Singaporeans now is SMOKING. Despite the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer and heart attack, more teenagers, and even school children, have taken to the puff.

This trend is likely to stay for a while, despite the campaign to persuade youngsters not to smoke. However, please do not be misled by the high proportion of young smokers into believing that most Singaporeans smoke. The percentage of Singaporeans who do not smoke is much higher compared to other developing countries.

Most Singaporeans, including teenagers, are aware that smoking is harmful. But they choose to ignore the danger, and go for the cheap thrill. Young men, smoking does not make you macho.

The best way to avoid smoking is not to try the first puff.

Of all the bad habits that affect our health, taking drugs is the worst. So far, the Government’s enforcement and Non-Government Organisations’ efforts have reduced the number of addicts in the past years. Tougher punishment has been meted out to perennial drug addicts. These measures are necessary to make sure that their bad habits do not spread to people, particularly the youngsters.

The Eunos Anti Drug Prevention Committee must step up its counselling services. It must render assistance not only to the ex-drug addicts, but also to their families. If we succeed in leading the ex-addict's children to live free from drugs, it would be the biggest success for us.

The Eunos Anti Drug Prevention Committee should also give priority to programmes for premature school leavers. These youngsters, thirteen to fifteen years old, are particularly vulnerable to bad influences.

Lastly, we must learn how to relax and make time for ourselves. Some say that modern living is very stressful. At work, bosses expect you to work hard; at home, if you are married, your spouse expects you to keep him/her company; and if you have children, it is your duty that they are raised properly.

Living in a competitive society also means that you must work efficiently and effectively to stay ahead. All these give you stress. Stress leads to a lot of ailments, such as migraines, strokes, heart attacks, indigestion, etc.

Stay active and always remember that regular exercise helps you to relax, especially after a hard day at work.

Stay confident about the future. Be assured that with proper planning and good working habits, you will be able to get the things you want in life.

If you do all these things, you will have a healthy life. Do not wait, start now.

Thank you.