Children with chronic illnesses attend medically-supervised Camp Rainbow in Singapore
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Club Rainbow (Singapore) hosted its annual Camp Rainbow from May 31 to June 2, 2025, providing a medically supervised recreational experience for 65 children aged six to 16 with chronic illnesses. Held at D'Resort @ Downtown East in Pasir Ris, the event featured 113 volunteers, including 22 doctors and nurses.Most participants were paired with a befriender to ensure safety and companionship throughout the three-day, two-night camp. Those with special needs or disabilities were assigned two befrienders for additional assistance.Also read: Top insolvency lawyer and former Rajah & Tann managing partner Patrick Ang dies at 61 The camp itinerary included outdoor games at Pasir Ris Park, an indoor campfire event at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, and a sports carnival at Goodwood Park Hotel. Campers were organized into six groups, each accompanied by a dedicated doctor and nurse, with additional medical staff on standby.Camp Rainbow began in 1991 before the official formation of Club Rainbow (Singapore) the following year. Executive Director Teo Siang Loong noted that a group of volunteers launched the camp after identifying the lack of recreational opportunities for children with chronic illnesses.'Camp Rainbow existed before Club Rainbow. The organization was born out of the camp in 1992 because the volunteers realized there was so much more they could do for these kids,' Teo said.Volunteers continue to be the foundation of the program. They include tertiary students, working adults, and medical professionals, many of whom return annually. Among them is Dr. Junaidah Badron, a senior staff physician at KK Women's and Children's Hospital. After 11 years with Camp Rainbow, she currently serves as medical director on Club Rainbow's management council.Also read: From IP to cosplay influencer: Singapore student builds career in fashion and wig design 'The overnight camp offers these children an opportunity to build independence and confidence as they are away from their parents,' Dr. Junaidah said.Two participants, Syarifah Alawiyah Alaydrus, age seven, and Annabel Ong, age 12, received special arrangements due to their medical conditions.Alawiyah, diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta, a severe brittle bone disease, attended as a day camper. She used a wheelchair and received support from staff nurse Nurdiyanah Shaiffah, who served as her befriender.Annabel, diagnosed with central hypoventilation syndrome, a sleep-related breathing disorder, did not stay overnight with the other campers. Her father, Ken Ong, booked a room at the same resort to ensure close proximity while she participated in daytime activities.Her favorite activity was the indoor campfire and group dance performance. 'In that instant, they were simply children dancing and having fun, not defined by disabilities or special needs,' said her befriender Eileen Chang, a volunteer from Singapore Management University.Also read: Singapore faces tough times as US tariff move to hit growth, jobs Club Rainbow (Singapore) emphasizes the value of inclusive community engagement . Executive Director Teo Siang Loong explained that the camp helps young volunteers better understand the challenges faced by children with chronic conditions.'We aim to develop community inclusivity by giving volunteers the opportunity to engage with the vulnerable,' Teo said. 'Through this interaction, we hope they will gain a better understanding and realize that this group, although vulnerable, are not very different from able-bodied or neurotypical individuals.'The organization continues to support children with chronic illnesses through year-round programs and outreach, building resilience and social connection among its young beneficiaries.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Are Indians consuming excess salt leading to increased risk of chronic diseases? ICMR launches study to address glaring issue
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Excessive intake of salt has become the cause of increased risk of hypertension , stroke, heart disease and kidney disporders, scientists from National Institute of Epidemiology scientists have launched a community-led salt reduction study to address the issue, focusing on low sodium salt substitutes Urban Indians consume close to double the World Health Organisation 's recommended level of 5 gram grams of salt per person per day. On an average a person in the urban areas consumes 9.2 grams of salt in a day, while a rural Indian has 5.6 grams/day, both higher than recommended.A tool used in the effort to decrease salt intake is low sodium salt substitutes. It constitutes of blends where part of the sodium chloride is replaced with potassium or magnesium salts, Dr Sharan Murali, a senior scientist at National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) and principal investigator of the study, said."Lesser sodium consumption helps reduce blood pressure and improves overall heart health, making low-sodium alternatives a meaningful switch, especially for those with hypertension," Dr Murali stated."Just switching to low-sodium salt can lower blood pressure by 7/4 mmHg on average is a small change with a big impact," Dr Murali NIE has launched a three-year intervention project in Punjab and Telangana to tackle the serious issue. It is being done with the support of the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR ).The aim of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of structured salt reduction counselling, delivered by health workers at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), in reducing blood pressure and sodium intake among individuals with hypertension, senior scientist at NIE, Dr Ganesh Kumar, who is also a part of the study, said."We are currently in the first year of the project, focused on baseline assessments and field preparations," Dr Kumar said."Counselling materials are not yet finalised; rather, we aim to co-create the intervention package with the community health workers, drawing on their experiences and incorporating their suggestions. It's not just about delivering health education, it's about listening, understanding, and building together," Dr Murali NIE conducted a market survey across 300 retail outlets in Chennai to assess the availability and pricing of low-sodium salt (LSS) to ensure interventions are grounded in study found that LSS was available in only 28 per cent of retail outlets. It was seen in 52 per cent of supermarkets, but only in 4 per cent in small grocery price of LSS averaged Rs 5.6 per 100g, which is more than twice the price of normal iodised salt (Rs 2.7 per 100g).These findings highlight a critical supply-demand disconnect, Dr Murali said."The lower demand for low sodium salt might be leading to its lower availability - it's a proxy indicator of awareness and access," noted Dr. raise more awareness, the NIE has also recently launched the #PinchForAChange campaign on Twitter and LinkedIn through infographics, facts, and simple messages, the campaign aims to raise awareness about hidden salt sources, promote low-sodium alternatives, and empower individuals to make heart-healthy choices."If successful, this project could lead to the integration of sustainable dietary counselling models into the existing public health system . It can bridge the gap between knowledge and action, improve health literacy, and ultimately reduce the burden of hypertension-related diseases."This is not just about reducing salt. It's about restoring balance in our diets, our systems, and our hearts. Together, one pinch at a time, we can create lasting change," Dr Murali added.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Age no bar: Tamil Nadu senior citizens crack NEET, seek MBBS seats under govt quota
No age bar, but rising questions Live Events Seeking MBBS under government quota A policy dilemma for officials A rare spike in older applicants (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a rare turn of events, three senior citizens aged 68, 67, and 60 — including two practicing lawyers — have cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year and applied for MBBS admissions in Tamil Nadu , surprising officials and triggering an unexpected debate in the state's medical admissions applications, submitted under a special government school quota, have created a stir among members of the state selection committee, who are now grappling with legal and procedural questions surrounding age, eligibility, and the intent of reservation National Medical Commission (NMC) removed the upper age limit for NEET in 2022, opening the door for candidates of all ages to appear for the highly competitive exam. The change, aimed at making medical education more inclusive, has led to a rise in older applicants in recent years — but never quite like this.'This year, there are many graduates and professionals aspiring for a medical or dental seat. This is the highest number of middle-age and older applicants we have seen since 2017,' said a senior official involved in the admissions confirmed that at least 25 candidates aged above 35 have applied for undergraduate medical and dental seats in the state this three senior candidates have applied for admission under Tamil Nadu's 7.5% government school quota, which offers subsidised or free MBBS seats in both government and private colleges to students who studied in state-run of the applicants have scored well enough to secure admission through the 69% reservation policy — a system unique to Tamil Nadu that factors in social and educational the applications have thrown up technical inconsistencies, particularly in the documents submitted under the special quota. Officials say that in some cases, the certificates don't conform to the current format or fail to meet the exact eligibility wording outlined in the these older applicants have met the academic requirements, the core dilemma for authorities now is whether adult graduates — who may have pursued alternate careers and now returned to education — should be allowed to avail themselves of quotas originally intended to uplift disadvantaged members of the selection committee are reportedly divided. While there is no legal barrier to senior citizens entering medical school, concerns have been raised about resource allocation, course rigour, and the effective intent of affirmative action issue may prompt a broader review of eligibility definitions in government quotas in the coming year marks the highest number of middle-aged and older candidates applying for medical and dental courses in Tamil Nadu since NEET became mandatory in 2017, officials least 25 applicants above the age of 35 are in the race, including three senior citizens aged 60 and above — a first-of-its-kind development that has drawn attention across the believe the spike may reflect a broader shift in the demographics of NEET aspirants, with graduates, professionals, and retirees now seeing medicine as a viable second career or long-deferred goal. While the trend is still nascent, it marks a significant departure from the typical profile of medical college entrants.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Fentanyl crisis takes center stage in US-China trade negotiations: Here's why
Trade policy as a weapon against Fentanyl China's response and diplomatic tensions Live Events Fentanyl's role in trade talks The stakes US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports that seizures of fentanyl at the border have doubled in the past two years, yet the supply remains robust, fueling the urgency behind the US's hardline stance. The ongoing dispute threatens to disrupt global supply chains, with the fentanyl crisis now influencing tariffs on a wide range of goods, from electronics to pharmaceuticals. The August 14 window is critical: if no further agreement is reached, tariffs could snap back to higher levels, with the fentanyl tariff remaining a central point of contention. (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The ongoing US-China trade talks have placed fentanyl—a deadly synthetic opioid—at the heart of economic diplomacy, underscoring how a public health emergency has become a central bargaining chip in global commerce. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused China of enabling the flow of fentanyl and its chemical precursors into the United States, leading to a surge in overdose deaths and prompting unprecedented tariffs that have reshaped the trade is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just 2 milligrams—an amount smaller than a few grains of sand—can cause a fatal overdose. The US has faced a relentless wave of fentanyl-related deaths, with tens of thousands of Americans dying annually from overdoses linked to the drug and its analogues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that synthetic opioids , primarily fentanyl, are responsible for over 70,000 overdose deaths in the US each response to the crisis, President Trump stated an emergency and imposed a 20% "fentanyl tariff" on all Chinese imports, explicitly linking trade penalties to China's alleged failure to stem the flow of fentanyl precursors to Mexican drug cartels , which then traffic the drug into the US. This fentanyl tariff remains in place even as broader tariffs have been temporarily reduced following recent trade negotiations.'The flow of contraband drugs like fentanyl to the United States, through illicit distribution networks, has created a national emergency, including a public health crisis. Chinese officials have failed to take the actions necessary to stem the flow of precursor chemicals to known criminal cartels,' stated the White has pushed back, arguing that the US opioid crisis is rooted in domestic misuse and regulatory failures, not Chinese exports. Still, in a move seen as a gesture of goodwill, China recently tightened controls on two key chemicals used in fentanyl production, adding them to a list of strictly regulated 4-ANPP and NPP are widely recognized as the most immediate precursors used in illicit fentanyl synthesis. Chinese authorities have also added other related substances to their control lists in line with United Nations recommendations, and are working to schedule additional chemicals such as 4-piperidone and officials, however, maintain that the ultimate responsibility lies with the US:'Fentanyl is the U.S.'s problem, not China's. The responsibility to resolve this issue lies with the United States,' said Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China's Foreign 20% fentanyl tariff is now a sticking point in ongoing negotiations. While both countries have agreed to temporarily lower other tariffs, the fentanyl-related duties remain, reflecting the issue's political and public health gravity. The US insists that further progress on trade depends on China's willingness to clamp down on fentanyl precursors, while China views the tariff as punitive and based on a mischaracterization of the crisis.
