Tag Archives: health

Singaporeans, whether vaccinated or refusing to be jabbed, feel a social divide over coronavirus

March 3, 2022 Angela Jelita Leave a comment

First published in South China Morning Post

A mother-of-two who had held off against getting vaccinated ‘felt like a social outcast’ when Singapore announced segregation measures for the unvaccinated
She got jabbed, but a breastfeeding mother has not and says ‘If people want to judge me, it’s on them’. A vaccinated woman laments the division over jabs

In August, the Singapore government announced strict segregation measures for the unvaccinated. Immediately, there was a surge in vaccination numbers, leaping from 70% completing the full regimen on 8 August to 78% just two weeks later. For those who remain unvaccinated, however, there is a feeling of being ostracised.

Mrs Ong (no first name given to protect identity) is 38 and a mother of two. She was hesitant of the mRNA vaccine and held off getting vaccinated for as long as she could, citing concerns over vaccination injuries and adverse reactions. “I was concerned about myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), which is one of the adverse side effects of the vaccine,” she says.

When the government announced the new restrictive measures for unvaccinated people, Mrs Ong felt “pressured” into booking her vaccination. “I felt like a social outcast,” she said, “so I reluctantly decided to get the vaccine so that I could have a sense of freedom again.”

Mrs Ong opted for the Pfeizer jab and has completed one of the two shots so far. Post-vaccination side effects she experienced included lethargy, headaches and nausea lasting two days. While awaiting her fully vaccinated status – which doesn’t come into effect until two weeks after the second jab – she eats at home and doesn’t socialise as she used to.

Regulations that went into effect on 10 August prohibit unvaccinated people over the age of 13 from dining in F&B outlets, except for hawker centres. Unvaccinated individuals are also prohibited from using indoor gyms or join indoor mask-off fitness classes, and have been encouraged to restrict movement to group sizes of two people.

Vaccinated residents of Singapore at a coffee shop. Unvaccinated residents of Singapore are not allowed to dine in at a restaurant or cafe. ©Angela Jelita

There are loopholes, although costly. An unvaccinated person is permitted to dine-in at an F&B establishment by presenting a negative pre-event Covid-19 result from an approved medical clinic that charges S$30 – S$65 for the test.

Mrs Lim (no first name given to protect identity) is 42 and works as a dance instructor. She is fully vaccinated and believes getting the jab was a selfless act of service for humanity. “We are all craving connection, and if this can help to rebuild connections, businesses, and help travel reopen, I am happy to do it,” she admits.

Mrs Lim has noticed a divide between vaccinated and non-vaccinated people on social media, believing that misinformation is having a rippling effect on communities. “Vaccinated people are just getting on with it, but the anti-vaxxers are causing themselves more mental trauma by creating so much anger on social media,” she shares.

As of 5 September, 81% of Singapore’s population of 5.9 million people have received both doses of the Covid-19 Pfeizer or Moderna vaccines. The Lion State also recently allowed other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL), including Sinovac.

Although the majority of Singapore’s residents are now vaccinated (81%), there are still many who are wary of or choose not to vaccinate. Mrs Tan (protecting identity) is in her late thirties and chooses to remain unvaccinated. Currently breastfeeding a 5-month-old baby, she cites the main reason for her decision to remain unvaxxed to the lack of long-term studies on the effect of the mRNA vaccine on babies.

“There are no long-term studies on the effect of the mRNA technology on the human body, therefore I prefer to take my chances on my immune system and the different immune boosting strategies I’ve been using for a while.” Mrs Tan supplements with vitamin C, D and Zinc, and follows a whole foods plant-based diet, with regular exercise.

Mrs Tan feels that the unvaccinated are discriminated against in Singapore. A strong believer in personal responsibility and freedom, however, she has “made peace” with the restrictions imposed on her decision not to vaccinate. “If people want to judge me, it’s on them,” she says.

Going forwards, Mrs Tan wishes to see a strong emphasis and education on ways to improve health and physical resilience. This includes outdoor activities, healthy eating, faith or spiritual-based practices, and a return to strong human connections.

After a year and a half of lockdowns, mask-wearing, social distancing, and restrictions on social activities, many residents got vaccinated believing they were helping the nation open up safely. But with surging numbers and a trajectory seeing a doubling of cases every week, the Government has urged its citizen to reduce non-essential social activities over the next two weeks.

As the government “monitors the situation”, the public remains in a state of unknowing once again, unsure of whether Singapore will continue its roadmap to an endemic Covid-19 or fall back on previous restrictive measures.

For many like Mrs Ong, there is a feeling of frustration at the recent announcements. “Even with over 80% of the population vaccinated, the Government is still recommending people avoid social activities and are introducing new testing regulations, which are constantly changing and very confusing,” she laments.

Mrs Ong wishes Singapore could return to normal life like the US and UK, with the exception of wearing masks in public places or on public transportation. “We need to accept the fact that most people will eventually get Covid-19, but that most will recover,” she says.

Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Published articles

How to become a vegan: five tips for success from someone who made the transition to a plant-based diet

March 3, 2022 Angela Jelita Leave a comment

First published in South China Morning Post

Marko Martinis, the chief operating officer of a technology start-up in Singapore, adopted a plant-based diet in January and says he has never felt better
He says you need a good reason for making the switch, good support and a nutritionist’s input. A big choice of places serving vegan food helps, as in Singapore

Singapore is considered one of the best cities in the world for vegan food. According to animal rights organisation Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the city leads the way in Asia, ranking second after Taipei. For those wishing to make the switch to a plant-based lifestyle or incorporate more plant-based meals in their diet, the Lion City is a great place to be.

Marko Martinis, the chief operating officer of a technology start-up in Singapore, is one such person – he decided to make the switch to a plant-based diet in January and he has never felt better.

The Croatian expat says adopting a vegan lifestyle has been flawless. “It’s so easy to become vegan in Singapore,” he says. “I even eat out for every single meal except breakfast.”

Martinis has shed 8kg (17.6 pounds) since going vegan, and says his fitness has substantially improved. At work, he reports feeling much more energetic – “lighter” – and he can concentrate better, as he no longer experiences any fogginess after eating heavy, meat-laden meals.

Marko Martinis adopted a plant-based diet in January and says he has never felt better. Photo: Marko Martinis

Martinis admits he felt doubt about his decision before he stopped eating meat, especially after seeing other people who aspired to do the same fail. “In any diet you’re going to have obstacles,” he says, “but from day one I did it right.”

If you are considering adopting a plant-based diet, consider Martinis’ top tips for making a smooth transition:

1. Have a strong reason for going vegan

Make a strong connection to the reasons you’re going plant-based. It could be for weight loss, health issues, your compassion towards animals, or to contribute towards a more sustainable environment.

For Martinis, it was his compassion towards animals, which grew out of his daily meditation practice. “If you start to feel compassion for everybody around you, you’re going to start to feel compassion towards those who are suffering, including animals.”

Vegan lasagne from Afterglow by Anglow in Singapore. Photo: courtesy of Afterglow by Anglow

2. Keep score

It’s important to hold yourself accountable for the things you put into your body. “Before you eat something, ask yourself: ‘is this food going to help me or set me back?’” asks Martinis.

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Martinis did this by taking up the Green Warrior Challenge, an online course, backed by a support group, that helps people make a successful transition to a whole food, plant-based diet. Every morning for a month, he filled out an online spreadsheet, and received positive or negative points for the foods he consumed throughout the day.

“Animal products and junk plant-based foods give you negative points, but healthy whole plant-based foods give you positive points,” he explained. Results were shared daily on Facebook and in a WhatsApp group with others making the same transition, which helped Martinis feel he was being held accountable for his food choices.

Vegan athlete couple on their plant-based performance boost12 Jan 2021

3. Have the support of friends and family

Make sure you have the support of friends, family, a partner, or somebody who wants to make the switch with you. “If you can find a group of people who are on the same wavelength, then the energy is fire,” says Martinis. “If you’re on your own, the probability is everyone around you is a doubter, which makes it much harder.”

Martinis suggests joining vegan Facebook and WhatsApp groups for that extra reinforcement. You can also follow healthy vegan advocates on social media, which can help you stay on track and give you extra inspiration.

A breakfast vegan burger from Love Handle Burgers in Singapore. Photo: courtesy of Love Handle Burger

4. Do your research

There are many great apps available to help you find vegan dishes and restaurants. Singapore-based A Billion Veg is a popular user-review app that tracks down vegan dishes, products and restaurants in your area, while donating to animal rescue charities around the world.

During the week, Martinis eats healthy food from places like SaladStop! Yolo, Haakon Superfoods, and Privé. On weekends, he chooses from a selection of places that serve brunch-style meals like Real Food, Afterglow by Anglow, and The Living Café, but he also allows himself some “vegan junk food” from places like Sunny Slices, Love Handle Burgers, and nomVnom.

5. Get the right nutrition

Martinis advises speaking with a professional who understands and supports your goals and can help to structure your meals. “I have a naturopath whom I’ve worked with for years and whose job is to keep me healthy,” he shares.

To ensure you’re getting the right nutrition and are remaining on track, Martinis suggests having your blood work checked before the transition, and every four to six months afterwards. Even though Martinis eats out for every meal except for breakfast, his blood work has improved since he stopped eating meat. His good cholesterol, or HDL (high-density lipoprotein), went up, and his LDL (low-density lipoprotein), or bad cholesterol, went down significantly.

Kimchi avocado roll from Afterglow by Anglow in Singapore. Photo: courtesy of Afterglow by Anglow

Martinis also recommends supplementing to ensure you’re getting all the right vitamins and minerals. “I use B12, omega-3, magnesium, vitamin C, and zinc – all of which I also took when I was a meat eater,” he says.

Martinis notes that every plant contains protein – at least 14 per cent of the total calories of every plant food you eat are from protein. Legumes are Martinis’ primary source of protein, and he also has a pea-based protein powder shake three times a day. Protein markers in Martinis’ blood work are in the ideal spectrum.

News, Published articles

The downsides to Singapore’s education system: streaming, stress and suicides

December 1, 2017 Angela Jelita Leave a comment

First published in South China Morning Post on 21 September, 2017

The country’s school system is geared towards high achievement in exams, but the emphasis on rote learning and memorisation, combined with pressure to succeed, affects children’s social skills, health and overall happiness.

Singapore’s education system is reputed for producing children who top the world rankings in standardised tests. The city state took first place in the last Pisa (global education rankings.

Hong Kong ranked ninth in the last Pisa tests, below Taiwan (fourth) and Macau (sixth).

Howard Tan, a former Singapore primary-school teacher turned private tutor, says he has encountered parents who put undue pressure on their youngsters.

“It’s too simplistic to say that the pressure comes from the system. A lot of pressure comes from parents,” he says, adding that he’s seen parents express disappointment with their children for scoring less than 90 per cent in tests. “As a teacher, I hardly push my students that way. The system necessitates that from the parents,” he says.

Tan teaches eight- and nine-year-olds, and his private tuition classes wrap up at 9pm. “I have one eight-year-old student taking multiple tuition classes from multiple tutors per subject, amounting to 11 tuition sessions a week. Does she have time for anything else?”

Tan says that when he taught physical education classes in primary school, he noticed that a number of children lacked motor skills. “In preschool … they need to socialise and learn conflict resolution with other kids. Many of the children I taught didn’t know how to deal with disagreements; they would shout because they didn’t know any better,” he says.

High student-to-teacher ratios are a big problem in Singaporean schools, Tan says, but pressure also stems from the practice of streaming – with pupils of the same year being segregated into different classes based on results and assessments in several key gateways.

Streaming is where the Singapore system differs from Hong Kong’s. However, segregation of “bright and slow” students still happens in Hong Kong, in the form of school banding.

Singapore’s compulsory education system consists of six years of primary school, four years of secondary, and between one and three years of post-secondary school. Students undergo two major exams before even leaving primary school.

At the end of primary year four, pupils are tested to determine the courses they will take in English, mathematics, mother tongue, and science. At the end of primary school, they take the Primary School Leaving Examination, which determines the stream a pupil will follow in secondary education.

There are four streams: Special, Express, Normal Academic, and Normal Technical. Special comprises about 10 per cent of pupils, and is an accelerated pathway to university. Fifty per cent make the Express track, which may lead directly to university or initially to junior college. Twenty per cent pursue the Normal track, leading to polytechnic institute, while the remainder fall into Normal Technical, which leads to a qualification at the Institute of Technical Education.

Some Singapore parents regard streaming as beneficial for children with different learning capacities. Maida Genato, who has three children at school, says: “For the slow learners, if you teach at a faster pace, they might have a hard time adjusting, whereas for fast learners, if you slow the pace they might get bored.”

Tan, however, says that with class sizes of 30 to 40 pupils, streaming will fail a lot of children.

Jamie Sisson, an education lecturer at University of South Australia, says streaming and high-stakes testing increase stress on children and parents.

“There is hard evidence proving that below high school, homework does not have a positive impact on learning.”

– JAMIE SISSON

“[It serves] to limit opportunities for learners that later affects their opportunities in life. Humans are complex beings. It is difficult to determine at a young age what someone is capable of achieving later in life,” she says.

The Singaporean concept of kiasu – a Hokkien word meaning “afraid to lose” – may explain why parents enrol their children in extracurricular tuition in the hope they will excel in test scores.

Genato, a Filipino, says she’s noticed that her daughter’s ethnic Chinese classmates tend to be pushed harder. “It must be a cultural thing,” she adds.

Sisson says she has observed that young adults of Chinese descent, including Singaporeans, sometimes find it hard to adapt to the university’s style of teaching.

“I’m seeing students, especially from China, struggle because they’re used to memorising answers. When they come to study in Australia, they have to shift their way of thinking.”

Sisson advocates a democratic, student-centred pedagogy, a teaching ethos by which students play a significant role in defining course policies, materials covered, and other aspects of schooling.

“Research shows that placing high value on test scores has led to narrow views of teaching and learning,” she says. “Such practices focus on memorising facts that have been determined by others to be of worth.

“If we don’t understand how things work in the context of real life, then we don’t understand, we’re just memorising. This can limit children’s opportunities to develop skills important to being innovative problem solvers we need in the future.”

Sisson refers to a widely cited report by British-based business lecturer Sally Chan, titled The Chinese Learner – a question of style. Chan writes: “The popular view is that the stresses of learning and need to excel academically leave the Chinese student with little choice but to resort to rote learning of the essentials to pass the examinations … Such learning modes are believed to dominate classroom behaviour for Chinese students in Hong Kong, China and Southeast Asia.”

Although primary-school children in Singapore spend an uncommon amount of time dealing with homework and extracurricular tuition, the benefits are questionable.

“There is hard evidence proving that below high school, homework does not have a positive impact on learning,” Sisson says, citing the example of Finland, which takes a holistic approach to education. Finnish students have little or no homework, and there is no private tuition culture in the country.

Finland came sixth in the latest Pisa rankings, and its schools produce young adults who are critical thinkers and problem-solvers.

“In preschool … they need to socialise and learn conflict resolution with other kids. Many of the children I taught didn’t know how to deal with disagreements.”

– HOWARD TAN

Finnish children don’t start school until they are seven years old, and there is only one standardised test, administered in the final year of high school. School holidays are longer. Finland ranked fifth in the UN’s 2016 World Happiness Report; Singapore ranked 26th.

Last year, Singapore’s Ministry of Education announced that a new scoring system would come into effect in 2021, claiming it will reduce stress by encouraging pupils to focus on their own learning rather that competition with their classmates.

Currently, a student’s Primary School Leaving Examination aggregate is the sum of T-scores from all four subjects taken. T-scores indicate how well a pupil has performed relative to peers in the subjects. From 2021, pupils’ scores will no longer be benchmarked against their classmates’, the ministry says, admitting: “The way that the T-score is calculated may have also created unhealthy competition among our young children.”

Roy Ngerng is a Singaporean activist, who in 2014 was found guilty of defaming Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on his sociopolitical blog, in comments about the city state’s pension fund. In an article titled ““New” PSLE Education Scoring System: Does it Change Anything?” Ngerng concludes that the change “still puts excessive focus on academic results”, and that students will actually find it harder to obtain higher scores.

Ngerng suggests that “healing” the system would require a combination of reducing class sizes and the administrative workload of teachers so they can focus on the development of each child, which would in turn reduce stress levels.

He also suggests a reduction in school hours. This would give teachers room for more creative activities to develop children’s critical thinking skills, he says.

Charities, Published articles

Treating a Growing HIV and AIDS Epidemic in Indonesia

December 16, 2014 Angela Jelita Leave a comment

Yayasan Kasih Suwitno at Ruang Carlo Community Centre: Non-discriminatory, friendly and free services for people with HIV and AIDS in Jakarta, Indonesia.

World Aids Day took place on 1 December 2014 and according to UNAIDS, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in Indonesia is one of the fastest growing epidemics in Asia, due to the lack of awareness, lack of education and health services, not to mention the social stigmas attached to having HIV or AIDS. Indonesia’s first case of the HIV virus was reported in 1987 and in 2011, 310,000 were reported to have the virus, with 8,700 annual reported deaths.

Today, the highest concentration areas are Papua, where 2.7% of the population have contracted the virus, followed by Jakarta, East Java, West Java, Bali and Riau. In Wamina, West Papua, 30% of the population have HIV, and nearly 100% have either Chlamydia or Gonorrhea, as these particular STDs are closely linked with the HIV virus.

Steve Wignall, Founder of Yayasan Kasih Suwitno (YKS) in Jakarta and Yayasan Bali Peduli (YBP) in Bali, has been working in Indonesia for 30 years and is an expert in HIV and AIDS. Due to an increase in cases in young people, in 2011 Steve and Dr. Emon Winardi (Director of the clinic) and their friend Johan set up YKS at Ruang Carlo Community Centre to provide services to patients that were friendly, efficient, easy to access and most importantly, free.

The clinic is located in the Saint Carolus Hospital and is a comfortable and discreet area, closed off from the rest of the hospital. Walls are painted a calming cream, service is friendly and knowledgeable, and there are different areas where patients can wait in peace.

“For young people with a chronic sickness, it’s very hard. They don’t have a lot of disposable income; the system often doesn’t respect their time and the cost of transport back and forth,” Steve tells me on my visit to the clinic in the centre of Jakarta.

Today the clinic has six full-time staff and is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership, working with the government who provide the reagents and drugs, and the NGO providing the environment and resources to make it accessible to people.

A common misconception is that HIV is a death sentence, when this is no longer true. If a person is tested early, before their immune system is damaged, medication is free and they will be able to live happy, healthy lives, have families and not infect other people. People are afraid to come for testing because of the stigmas associated with the virus.

Steve Wignall and Dr. Janice of Ruang Carlo Community Centre, Jakarta

Dr. Janice Tandraeliene works at Ruang Carlo Community Centre and believes stigmas are the main reason why people don’t take the test. “Some people are afraid to come, not just here but to all health facilities that test for HIV. There are many reasons, including the stigma, because they’re alone and don’t know what to do. When people come here alone, we try to consult and explain about HIV and make them comfortable so that they want to take the test.” If the result is positive, patients will be guided by therapy and given medication, which they are expected to take for the remainder of their lives.

The medication given to HIV patients is called anti-retroviral therapy and works by suppressing the virus and stopping the progression of the disease. Killing the virus is not possible, but these drugs stop it from developing. HIV is different from other viruses and infections because it becomes one with the DNA, integrating and hiding within it. Patients do not die from HIV; they die from infections, viruses and funguses, which are able to attack the weakened immune system.

“Unfortunately, HIV goes for the dalang (mastermind) of our immune system, the CD4 positive T cells, a type of white blood cell that is vital to fighting off infection. We’re all exposed every day to viruses and funguses but our immune system takes care of that,” Steve explains.

HIV is transmitted in key infected populations: injecting drug users – a problem that is decreasing in Indonesia as people are switching to amphetamine-like substances –, female commercial sex workers – 10-15% of whom are HIV positive -, and men who have sex with men – a rapidly expanding population of over 1 million individuals. In Jakarta in 2003, studies showed that 2% of gay men were found to be HIV positive; in 2007, 8%; and in 2011, 17%. At YKS today, an average of 27% of young men tested, are HIV positive.

What is the reason for this growing statistic? Social medias are providing a new platform for young people to meet and sex is happening at a younger age. Unfortunately, this is not coupled with adequate sexual education in local schools, and not at an early enough age, by teachers who are able and willing to talk openly about sex.

One of the fastest growing groups in Indonesia are housewives infected by their husbands who are visiting sex workers or are having sex with other men. In Bali, one in 200 pregnant women have contracted the virus from their husbands.

Steve believes the focus should shift towards men. “The focus often goes to the women, but it’s really the man that’s the problem. There’s only a sex industry if there’s a market to sell sex; if men didn’t buy it, there would not be women selling it. Getting men who buy sex to use condoms is a challenge and we need to continue to work on that; the best we see is 40-50% condom use.”

Antonio giving a consultation to a patient at Ruang Carlo Community Centre

Antonio is Case Manager at Ruang Carlo Community Centre and is HIV positive. He’s passionate about helping others who are going through what he has. “My life has become more positive, living healthily, and getting support from family and friends. Of course, I want to be a role model for other friends so they do not feel despair and can continue to enjoy their lives by giving and sharing information about the ups and downs of life with HIV, and supporting each other.”

The only way to break the process of infection is for people with high risk behaviours to get tested. “We’re only going to be able to break this chain of infection if people know their status,” reminds Steve. Recently, the team at YKS have been bringing free HIV testing to certain high-risk establishments in Jakarta, resulting in a much higher number of people agreeing to be tested.

—

How to help

YKS would like to provide more mobile testing, and welcome your donations to help them continue to run their operations.

Donations can be made to:

Yayasan Kasih Suwitno

Panin Bank

148 5 017678

Harco Mangga Dua Blok I no. 5 A-B

Swift Code PINBIDJA

First published in Indonesia Expat December 2014

Angela Jelita Richardson