NTUC, unions and co-operatives contribute more than $280,000 to Courage Fund
23 April 2003: The NTUC, its affiliated unions and co-operatives will make a $280,000 contribution to The Courage Fund. In addition, the NTUC has also kicked start a drive to encourage all union members and the public to donate generously to The Courage Fund through the donation boxes set up by NTUC Fairprice at its outlets.
The NTUC has also put together a SARS Self-Help Kit for the first 2000 new union members who sign up at its recruitment roadshows held at various locations islandwide over the weekend. (Please see Annex A) Each SARS Self-Help Kit, which is put together with the help of NTUC Healthcare, contains a thermometer, 3 sachets of alcohol swabs, 2 masks, 1 pack of tissues, a bar of soap and a $5 Unity Healthcare voucher. As the name implies, this kit helps members stay a step ahead of the disease.
Explaining NTUC's contribution to the Courage Fund and SARS Self-Help Kit, NTUC Secretary-General, Mr Lim Boon Heng, said, "NTUC salutes the efforts of all the healthcare workers at the forefront tackling the SARS outbreak. The labour movement's $280,000 contribution to the Courage Fund is a gesture of our heartfelt gratitude to these dedicated workers in this trying period. The contribution is just the start. We hope to get all of our union members and members of the public to contribute to the Courage Fund through the donation boxes placed at Fairprice outlets."
"Further to the contribution, it is important that we ensure that there is no community outbreak. This depends very much on each and every one of us in Singapore behaving responsibly. We can help ourselves and the people around us - that is the simple message that we hope to convey through the SARS Self-Help Kit. Each of us should take our temperature daily," Mr Lim added.
The Health Ministry's "isolate and contain" strategy is an effective means of containing the infection mainly within the hospitals thus far. There is a need for a more concerted national effort involving all Singaporeans to prevent the spread of the virus to the community areas. With the outbreak at the Pasir Panjang wholesale vegetable market, there is an even greater urgency for preventive management measures lest there be a spillover effect to the city and neighborhood areas.
NTUC shares this national concern and urges all Singaporeans to do our part in breaking the chain of contagion. All of us can practice personal hygiene and be socially responsible in taking preventive measures to avoid a further multiplication of the infection to the unsuspecting people around us. Prevention is always better than cure.
Annex A: Location of Recruitment Drives
1. Fixed Location Recruitment Drives
Timing:
Mon - Fri 12pm to 9.30pm
Sat - Sun 2pm to 9pm
1. 5, Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #01-01 - Wed 23rd April - Fri 25th April
2. HUB Hub 500, Lorong 6, Toa Payoh, B1-32/01-33 - Thurs 24th April - Sun 27th April
3. 154A, Bukit Batok West Ave 8, #01-01 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
4. 166, Bukit Merah, #02-3531 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
5. 152B, Serangoon North Ave 1,#01-384 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
6. 135, Jurong Street 13, #01-337 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
7. 71, Kallang Bahru, #01-529/#02-531 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
8. 107, Tampines Street 11, #01-353/355/357/359 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
9. Shaw Plaza, 360 Balestier Road, B1-01 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
10. Block 677, Rangoon Rd, #01-02 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
11. Lot 1 Shopper's Mall, 21 Chua Chu Kang Ave 4, #B2-1/B1-01 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
12. Hougang Point, No. 1, Hougang Street 91., #02-01 - Fri 25th April - Sun 27th April
13. 1, Jurong West Central 2, #B1-41, Jurong Point Shopping Centre - Sat 26April - Sun 27th April
14. Thomson Plaza, 301, Upper Thomson Rd, #03-25/31 - Sat 26April - Sun 27th April
15. Yew Tee MRT Station, 61 Chua Chu Kang Dr, #01-01 - Sat 25th & Sun 26th
16. No1, Jelebu Road, #01-15/02-11/12, Bukit Panjang Plaza - Sat 25th & Sun 26th
17. 1, Rochor Road, #01-640 - Sat 25th & Sun 26th
18. Marsiling MRT Station, 71 Woodlands Ave 3 #01-01 - Sat 25th & Sun 26th
19. Admiralty MRT Station Cheers - Sat 25th & Sun 26th
20. Ang Mo Kio MRT Station Cheers - Sat 25th & Sun 26th
21. Bukit Batok Central Cheers - Sat 25th & Sun 26th
2. Mobile Recruitment
1. Woodlands MRT Station - Tues 22nd April - Wed 23rd April - 12pm to 6pm
2. Bedok Central - Tues 22nd April - Thurs 24th April - 5pm to 10pm
3. Somerset MRT Station - Mon 21st April - Fri 25th April - 4pm to 8pm
4. Pasir Ris MRT Station - Thurs 24th April - Fri 25th April - 1pm to 9pm
