Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2^nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666

Good evening

Venerable Shi Fa Zhao, President of Metta Welfare Association

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am happy to join you here this evening at this official opening of Metta Home. This marks yet another significant milestone in the Metta Welfare Association’s achievements to provide quality services to the community.

With the opening of Metta Home, there are now 7 Homes for the Disabled in Singapore. One more is in the pipeline and expected to be ready in a few years’ time. The new Metta Home has a capacity of 103 beds for long term residential care and a Day Activity Centre for 50 people with intellectual disabilities. Its location at Woodlands will also be beneficial to the residents in the relatively new estates of the northern part of Singapore.

I am told that Metta Home initiated the project to build a playground and landscaped garden in the open space area shared by the Home and the nearby HDB blocks. This common recreational facility has brought together both residents of the HDB blocks and the residents of Metta Home. I am pleased to note this close involvement and co-operation between the Home and the local community. It indicates the goodwill towards and acceptance of disabled residents as part of the larger social community. This is in keeping with our philosophy of integrating people with disabilities with the community.

The Government is committed to provide the guidance, infrastructure as well as the resources necessary for the community to do its part to meet the needs of people with disabilities. In this regard, my Ministry provided $4.79 million to the Metta Welfare Association for the construction of this Home. About $138,000 will be provided annually for the running costs of the Home.

Persons with severe disabilities need much more attention and supervision. With more small family units in Singapore, the care provided by residential Homes has become more important. However, admission to the Homes should remain the last resort. Intervention at the early childhood stage for those diagnosed with a disability will minimise the severity of the disability in the later stages of life. This will help the young ones build the necessary foundation skills for independent living. Institutionalisation may thus be delayed, if not averted altogether.

At the individual level, persons with disabilities must try to participate actively in programmes to improve their functional independence. The aim must be to enable them to go about their daily activities with as little assistance and reliance on others as possible. At the family level, we would like to see strong, caring families that make it their responsibility to provide the first line of support for members with disabilities. And at the community level, we want a strong network of community services to support the family in its care of their members with disabilities.

To achieve these desired outcomes, my Ministry together with the National Council of Social Service are currently reviewing policies and programmes to better help persons with disabilities to be a part of the community. We plan to consult voluntary welfare organisations in our review.

I am confident that with the support and commitment of the voluntary sector, significant progress for persons with disabilities can be achieved.

On this note, I wish to commend Metta Welfare Association again for your contribution to society and congratulate you on the opening of the Metta Home. Thank you.