ACCORD, GRASSROOTS LEADERS LEARN MORE ABOUT SAF MEDICAL CORPS

"This visit gave me a very good overview of the SAF medical system across the three Services. From a layman perspective, (it provided an) understanding that the medical system is there to support servicemen - should there be any medical emergencies, there is a well-equipped system to handle their needs."

Mr Yeong Gah Hou, a member of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence's (ACCORD's) Family and Community Council, said this after touring the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Headquarters Medical Corps (HQMC) on 8 Mar.

He was among 65 ACCORD members and grassroots leaders (GRLs) who were hosted by Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman to a visit to HQMC at Nee Soon Camp.

Thanking them for their support of National Service (NS) and the SAF, Dr Maliki said: "Your support has always been critical for us to ensure that the institution of NS continues to be supported Your visit here today on a Sunday morning encourages our people because it shows that you care enough to find out more about what they do." He also encouraged them, as community leaders, to share the experience of their visit with their respective communities.

The visitors were given a presentation by HQMC, which included topics such as the SAF's medical classification system, the Physician Partnership Programme, and an overview of the Emergency Medical Support System.

Dr Maliki and Chief of Medical Corps Rear-Admiral (RADM) (Dr) Kang Wee Lee also opened up the floor to a question-and-answer session, during which they addressed concerns regarding issues such as the process determining the Physical Employment Status of enlistees and the training and qualification of the SAF's medical officers.

Following this, the ACCORD members and community leaders viewed a demonstration by the Medial Response Force on treating casualties of Biological, Radiological and Exposure Threats, as well as the various land and air ambulances used in emergencies. They also visited the Medical Simulation Training Centre (MSTC) and witnessed training carried out with High-Fidelity Human Patient Simulators (HFHPS).

Mr Yeong found the visit to be an eye-opening experience: "(It showed) the professionalism and capabilities that have been developed over the years. Of course, what was most eye-opening was the visit to the simulation centre and the smart dummy (HFHPS), which was amazing, (and) how the level of training accorded to the SAF medics has the same level and rigour as that accorded to people trained in the hospitals, for example."

Mr A. Marai Malai Maran (PBM), Vice-Chairman of Yio Chu Kang Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC), agreed: "What we have seen today (really showed) what the SAF is capable of... and what we can expect when our sons go for NS. The equipment were really state-of-the-art and high-tech. You can see that they are really very advanced and it gives me a lot of confidence."

On how he planned to share his experience with the rest of his community, he said: "For residents who come to meet-the-people sessions with questions about NS, this will help me better explain matters (especially those related to medical issues) to them.

"(There are) people who are uncomfortable sending their sons for NS, thinking that they have a certain medical condition. But with today's briefing and what we saw, I think everybody can be assured that there is absolutely nothing to worry about."

When asked about the 18 ACCORD recommendations that were recently accepted by the Ministry of Defence, Mr Yeong was hopeful that the recommendations would go a long way to strengthening support for NS. "I definitely support the idea of getting a lot more small businesses to come on board to show support for the NSmen (Operationally Ready National Servicemen). I think that is one way for the wider community to rally and show their support for the NSmen.

"The other component is to get the ladies to better understand what NS entails and how, even if they are not directly participating in NS, they can support the men in their families or whom they know."