Singapore International Foundation

21 Apr 2009

SVO (Palliative Care for Children) Project Official Launch

Singapore International Foundation's Mr. Aaron Ng speaks at the official launch of the SVO Specialist Team (Palliative Care for Children) Project in Indonesia.

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Your Excellency Ashok Kumar Mirpuri,
Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia

Dr. Untung Suseno Sutarjo,
Head of Centre of Health Development Policy Analysis, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia

Mr Jimmy Masrin,
Trustee of Yayasan Rumah Rachel (Rachel House)

Professor Sutoto,
President Director of Rumah Sakit Kanker Dharmais (Dharmais Cancer Centre)

Distinguished guests,


It gives me great honour and pleasure to represent the Singapore International Foundation at the official launch of the Singapore Volunteers Overseas Specialist Team (Palliative Care for Children) Project.

The Singapore International Foundation - or the SIF, in short - is a not-for-profit organisation that was set up in 1991 to nurture active global citizens and friends for Singapore. Our flagship Singapore Volunteers Overseas, or SVO, programme captures the essence of our mission - by providing opportunities for passionate Singaporeans to take up the call of volunteering overseas, and as they work among and with people from different cultures, develop an appreciation of the world beyond our shores and build friendships between nations. The SVO Specialist Team (Palliative Care for Children) Project is one such sterling example.

Led by Dr. Cynthia Goh, an expert in the field of palliative care, Singapore palliative care professionals will embark on a mission to build up the capacity of their counterparts here in Indonesia. Over two years, starting today, they will be conducting a total of six training frames, imparting skills and knowledge in the assessment, treatment and management of pain and symptoms experienced by children with life-threatening illnesses.

The need for palliative care is growing. It is our hope that through this project, palliative care professionals here will be better placed to assess, treat and manage the pain and symptoms experienced by children with life-threatening illnesses. Every child is precious, and deserves the best care and comfort we can give.

We also hope that this project will be a start of a growing awareness of palliative and increasing local expertise in this medical field, both in Jakarta and ultimately throughout Indonesia.

Our partner in Indonesia, Yayasan Rumah Rachel, also called Rachel House, is the first paediatric hospice in Indonesia. They can also play a substantial part in this.

In giving of their time, energy and expertise, I believe that our Singapore volunteers will also be beneficiaries of this experience. Many of our past volunteers were deeply impacted by their host countries and the people they worked with, and we believe it will similarly be so here in Indonesia.

At this point in time, please allow me to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Health in Indonesia, Rachel House our partner, and other project collaborators like the Dharmais Cancer Centre for their support and commitment to this project.

Much appreciation also goes out to Dr. Cynthia Goh and her team of volunteers - truly, they are the life force behind this project.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all our Indonesian friends and partners for the kind hospitality extended towards us and to all the SIF staff who have been involved in this project. Through our partnership and cooperation, bonds of friendship have been and will be forged between the peoples of Singapore and Indonesia, relationships which I hope will flourish and grow.

I wish you all a wonderful day ahead. Thank you!