S'poreans in the north, like Woodlands town, are less physically active than average, have higher diabetes & hypertension rates

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will work on improving community health, with a focus on Northern Singapore, said Rahayu Mahzam in parliament.

She was speaking at the MOH Committee of Supply debate on Mar. 5.

National data shows that in the north, residents engage in less physical activity than the national average, she said.

The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension is also higher than average.

"While we continue to review reasons for these trends, we are simultaneously stepping up our preventive care efforts in the region," she said.

This includes a multi-pronged approach, centred on Woodlands Town.

A super healthy Woodlands Town

From April 2026, more residents will be able to join community workout and exercise sessions in locations like 888 Plaza and Fu Chun Community Centre.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) will also enhance the Healthy 365 app with new wayfinding and gamification features to encourage residents to stay active.

For instance, residents may be prompted to complete a brisk walk along park connectors, in exchange for rewards, Rahayu said.

This feature will be rolled out from June 2026.

HPB will also work with community stakeholders to co-design healthy lifestyle programmes, and plan relevant activities for residents.

In addition to this, MOH is reviewing Singapore's tobacco control policies. One such policy it is "open" to is a cohort smoking ban — in other words, restricted access to all tobacco products from a specific birth cohort onwards.

More CHPs

Since the start of this year, NHG Health has been "progressively enhancing" the 11 Community Health Posts (CHPs) in Woodlands Town.

All residents — including non-seniors — can walk in to these enhanced CHPs, located at Active Ageing Centres in Woodlands, to access services from basic health assessments to chronic disease management.

They will be open once a week.

From the end of this month, Woodlands Hospital will also launch a new initiative at the enhanced CHPs to provide specialist-supported care to patients with diabetes and asthma.

Instead of travelling to Woodlands Hospital, they will be able to see a health coach or nurse at the enhanced CHPs, and receive support from specialist doctors through tele-consultations, Rahayu said.

Malay-Muslim community

Speaking in Malay, Rahayu addressed areas of concern regarding the health of the Malay/Muslim community.

Chronic disease screening across Malay residents dropped nearly 10 per cent between 2019 and 2024, with breast cancer screening falling from 29 per cent to just 18 per cent in 2024.

"When chronic conditions and cancer are not detected early, serious complications may have already arisen by the time they are detected, which will require more intensive and costly treatment," she said.

To provide health advice in familiar settings, two mosques in Woodlands — An Nur Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque — will partner with NHG Health to provide CHP services by September this year.

Consultations will also be conducted by community nurses and health coaches who are fluent in Malay to minimise communication barriers, particularly for seniors, Rahayu said.

She also addressed the issue of obesity, noting that Malay residents consume the most calories and sweetened food and drinks.

About one in three people in the community are obese, a rise of nearly 10 per cent from 24 per cent in 2020.

"This is a significant concern, as obesity increases our risk for developing multiple chronic conditions," she said.

"Let’s reduce our intake of sugar, sodium and saturated fat and eat a healthy, balanced meal richer in fibres and wholegrains."

Top image from MDDI/YouTube, Canva, Google Maps.