Collaborating with Duke-NUS Medical School to Improve Health Among Migrant Workers

In May, we collaborated with students from Duke-NUS Medical School (Health-to-Thrive/Project Crane) to provide health screening and DARE (Dispatcher-Assisted first REsponder)/First Aid training for migrant workers in Singapore. These initiatives aim to promote better health outcomes and safety among the migrant worker community.

Health Screening at Cochrane Recreation Centre

We partnered with Duke-NUS Medical School (Healthy to Thrive initiative) to organize a basic health screening and education event at Cochrane Recreation Centre, with the objective to empower migrant workers to take charge of their health and well-being and foster an understanding of the importance of early detection and prevention for chronic diseases.

Together, we reached over 300 migrant workers, providing them with basic health services and information.

We were delighted to hear that numerous individuals developed a deeper comprehension of how they can take responsibility for their own health and well-being.

Furthermore, the students had a positive experience serving migrant workers. One student shared:

“I had a great experience providing help and advice to migrant workers!”

Another student found it fulfilling:

“Many of the migrant workers were happy to just see me and I feel fulfilled after my volunteering experience.”

DARE (Dispatcher-Assisted first REsponder)/First Aid Class

DARE/First Aid training plays a vital role in emergency response, equipping individuals with essential skills to provide immediate assistance until professional medical help arrives.

For migrant workers who often work in physically demanding environments, having the knowledge and confidence to respond to emergencies can be lifesaving.

The class aims to empower migrant workers by offering them practical and actionable knowledge. The DARE hands-on programme allows migrant workers to learn how to co-operate with the 995 specialists, perform chest compressions and use an AED on a cardiac arrest victim. The first aid training covered wound management and handling of common medical emergencies.

The feedback from many migrant workers who attended the course has been overwhelmingly positive. They expressed enjoyment during the sessions and appreciated the opportunity to learn new skills through hands-on practice.

Partner With Us

If your student group or organization is interested in collaborating with us for upcoming events, please don't hesitate to contact us here. We welcome and encourage collaborations with like-minded entities to create impactful initiatives together!

Empowering Communities and Promoting Health: My Brother SG's First Intergenerational and Interschool Migrant Worker Health Carnival

The Migrant Worker Health Carnival that we co-organised with Construction Care Collaboration, National Health Group (NHG) Family Medicine Residency, and MOM ACE Group was a resounding success, reaching over 200 migrant brothers at the Kranji Recreation Centre.

This event marks a significant milestone for us. It is the first time we collaborated with students from medical schools and doctors from Singapore’s three healthcare clusters to conduct a health screening for migrant workers. We came together with the aim of increasing health awareness and literacy among the migrant community.

Medical students and doctors worked together to check migrant brothers’ blood pressure, height and weight. They also provided health education on chronic illnesses and musculoskeletal pain, empowering migrant workers to lead healthier lifestyles.

A volunteer checking a migrant worker’s blood pressure

An engaging and educational game for migrant workers

Not only was the health carnival a great way to care for the migrant community, but it was also an excellent opportunity for mentorship between doctors and students as they served the community together.

Both students and doctors enjoyed volunteering and found it meaningful to contribute to a good cause.

One student said about their volunteer experience:

“I really enjoyed speaking to migrant workers about health tips. It felt fulfilling to be able to help them.”

Student volunteers educating a migrant worker on chronic diseases

Another student said:

“This was an impactful experience as I got to interact with migrant workers and see first-hand what their facilities are like.”

A doctor from NHG Family Medicine Residency expressed how inspiring it was to witness like-minded groups coming together to help migrant workers, saying:

“What stood out to me the most was the collaboration between medical schools and various family medicine clusters for a good cause. It inspired and encouraged me to continue promoting and establishing community outreach within NHG Family Medicine Residency.”

Volunteers and event organisers at the Migrant Worker Health Carnival

The event's success would not have been possible without the support of all the doctors from different healthcare clusters and volunteers from My Brother SG, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, and Duke-NUS Medical School. We look forward to kickstarting many more exciting partnerships with medical professionals to conduct regular health screenings for migrant workers.

If you are interested in partnering or volunteering with My Brother SG, get in touch with us here.

Curated Learning Journey with Healthcare Students

In January, My Brother SG collaborated with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Forward Assurance and Support Team (FAST) officers to organise a curated learning journey for student group Popping the Bubble (PTB). PTB is a student-led project in National University of Singapore (NUS) which seeks to empower healthcare students to understand and serve different marginalised communities better.

The curated learning journey was an orientation and induction before PTB joined us as volunteers at our ground outreaches.

The session was held at the award-winning Leo Dormitory, with a fully equipped gym, a sick bay and face scan gantries. Students had the chance to tour around the dormitory, hear MOM and our sharing, and engage in small-group conversation with a migrant brother.

Healthcare students engaging in conversation with a migrant brother.

At the end of the session, students shared their reflections. They saw how tough it is for migrant brothers to be away from home, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which has taken a serious toll on their mental health.

Through conversations with FAST officers, they learned that company employers could influence brothers’ welfare. Overall, they were encouraged by the efforts of many helping hands such as MOM and non-governmental organisations involved in the migrant worker community, and were challenged on how they could also contribute.

We are glad that the students gained much insight from the curated learning journey. We hope that it will enhance their volunteering and community service with My Brother SG and nurture them to become compassionate and effective future healthcare providers.

---

Interested in serving the migrant worker community together? Learn how you can partner with us here.