Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong, together with 50 taxi leaders from the National Taxi Association (NTA) visited some 1,000 taxi drivers at the Changi Airport terminals today. This visit aims to show appreciation to taxi drivers who continue to work on the first day of Lunar New Year. While many celebrate the Lunar New Year with their families, taxi drivers continue to ply the roads. In particular, taxi drivers at the Changi Airport help ensure Singaporeans returning home and arriving tourists enjoy a timely and comfortable ride to their destinations.
“Taxi drivers provide a service every day, even during public holidays. It is however during days like this that is extra special. Like me, many of my peers shared that it warms our hearts when passengers thank us for fetching them home safely in time for a reunion with their families,” said Mr Puah Hong Him, one of the taxi drivers who queued in line at the Changi Airport.
Taxi drivers typically spend more than 12 hours on the roads and it is vital that they take care of their health and well-being. NTA has identified three areas where more can be done to help taxi drivers manage their health and stress more effectively; i.e. proper and healthy diet, regular exercise and adequate rest. To this end, NTA wishes to further augment on-going efforts in helping taxi drivers stay physically fit and healthy.
Today, NTA and the various partners had put together a “healthy” goodie bag, which were distributed to the taxi drivers at the terminals. Items include tonic soup herb packets, flight vouchers, medical treatment vouchers, exercise programmes etc from Changi Airport Group, Health Promotion Board, Parkway Shenton Medical, OTO Bodycare, Tigerair, Unity Denticare and 老火汤.
“We wish to thank our taxi drivers who are here early in the morning on the first day of CNY to ensure that commuters get to their destinations. We also want to help them start the year right, so the idea of giving them the “healthy” goodie bags reinforces the importance of eating well, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and keeping themselves mentally well rested,” said Mr Ang Hin Kee, Executive Adviser of NTA.
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