Diseases
Common Communicable Diseases:
Among the most commonly occurring infectious diseases in Singapore are Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, Dengue Fever/Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Salmonellosis and Tuberculosis. The dense population of Singapore and the limited accessibility of healthcare and providers presents a challenge in preventing the spread of disease. These factors highlight the importance of disease surveillance and implementation of programs such as the National Childhood Immunization Program (NCIP). The NCIP in covers vaccinations against TB, hepatitis B; diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus; poliomyelitis; Haemophilus influenzae type b; measles, mumps and rubella; pneumococcal disease; and human papillomavirus (Communicable Diseases Surveillance in Singapore, 2017).
NCIP
Vaccination Schedule
(Communicable Diseases Surveillance in Singapore 2017)
(Hawker Centers, 2019)
Common Non-Communicable Diseases:
The most commonly occurring non-communicable diseases in Singapore include cardiovascular disease (29%, cancers (30%), chronic respiratory disease (3%) and diabetes (1%) (Noncommunicable Diseases Country Profiles, 2018).
Dietary habits, largely influenced by the social nature, convenience, and affordability of abundant food courts known as hawkers, present an obstacle to the prevention of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. While Singaporean dietary habits have reportedly improved with time, salt and sugar intake remains a concern as food choices have demonstrated increased levels of consumption (National Nutrition Survey, 2018). Singapore's government has taken aggressive steps toward combatting diabetes "declaring war" against the disease by offering free activity and health screening programs. Additionally, the amount of healthier food options in dining establishments through out the country has reportedly more than tripled (Palma, 2020).
Additional health related challenges are presented by substance abuse, tobacco use, and air pollution. The Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act was created to reduce the prevalence of smoking (Overview of tobacco control, 2020). Singapore's government is making efforts to improve the quality of their air, but fell short of their air quality level goals in the year 2019 (Ong, J. 2020).
(Haze in S'pore, 2019)
(Ong, 2020)
COVID-19
Coronavirus was first discovered to have spread to Singapore in January of 2020. Singapore has aggressively managed tracing contact points of those who are discovered to be infected. Dormitories of migrant workers have proven to be the source of many infections, but the dormitories remain on lockdown during the outbreaks. Despite the rate of transmission of the virus, symptoms have been mostly mild and the reported death toll in Singapore remains around 30. (Updates on COVID-19, 2020). This can be attributed to the fact that most of the migrant workers infected have been young and otherwise healthy allowing them to recover from the virus. Singapore's intensive care units reportedly remain well equipped and prepared to handle the cases as the situation continues to evolve (Beaubien, 2020).
