Tag Archives: HPB

In its “war against diabetes” the government – led by the Health Minister and the CEO of the Health Promotion Board – is promoting the ridiculous message that eating rice is more harmful than taking sugary soft drinks. This shows a total lack of understanding about basic nutrition. It also goes against the rest of the medical community worldwide, which, in recent years, has produced report after report about the many harmful effects of sugar. The Health Minister and the CEO of HPB are unfit to be in their positions.

My child school this year start this "Healthy Meals in School Programme" by the Health Promotion Board to my dismay. Last year a bowl of porridge cost 70 cents This year the same bowl of porridge cost 1.50, with an additonal plate of fruits (a few longans and a slice of watermelon) I emailed the school but got no reply. Then I emailed the parents support group of the school and another parent shared this with me

HPB has done an excellent job with the FAQ on sexuality but there still remains the need to point youths to accurate and supportive sources of information about health and sexuality. Perhaps if I knew about organizations like Oogachaga that could guide and support me as I healed, I would not have felt so alone and helpless. As such, I sincerely urge HPB to reinstate the web links for the LGBTQ support organizations. It would go a long way in helping not just youths who struggle with issues pertaining to sexuality, but also their parents who otherwise lack access to information about organizations like SAFE who can link up parents of LGBTQ youth for support.

In ELEMENT Magazine 6th issue which is the Valentine’s issue, we embark on a photo-spread to showcase the inclusivity and transcendence aspects of Love. During the photo-shoot, as we spoke with the different couples which consist of straight, gay and lesbian couples. Their sexuality and gender blurred. They had that same look of adoration for each other, the way they beamed when they spoke of each other, the carefree laughter when they poked fun at each other and their hands that seek out each other’s as they speak. How could one isolate, freeze that moment, and tell you that it’s not the same? That the way Jeigh looks at Sean with that twinkle in his eyes is different from the way Ischelle looks at Zi Hao. That the way Mon clutches Joey’s hands is different from the way Nicholas held on to Jacqueline’s.

This response is to record Pergas’ disappointment to the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) recent FAQ on sexuality. Pergas finds that the FAQ is insensitive towards the prevailing view of the Singaporean society. This is as reflected in the recent Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) survey which reported that 78.2% of Singaporeans views are generally conservative towards same-sex relation.

We disagree with the claim that moral objection to homosexual behaviour is based on "irrational fear, disgust, or hatred" of homosexuals or bisexuals because they "do not conform to traditional sexual roles and stereotypes". Far from it. Moral objection is based on the intrinsic physiological nature of the male and female bodies. We do not despise homosexuals or hold them in contempt. We esteem them as fellow human beings of intrinsic worth. Each one is precious, deserving respect and love, just like anyone else.