“Better Health, Better Life” Carnival Brings Wellness And Community Spirit To Canberra

More than 200 residents turned up at Canberra Community Club on Saturday, 5 April 2025, for the first-ever “Better Health, Better Life” Health Carnival — a vibrant day of community wellness powered by HMI Medical, in partnership with the People’s Association and grassroots leaders.

Designed to spark conversations around preventive healthcare and strengthen community bonds, the carnival transformed the heart of Canberra into a hands-on hub of health education, screenings, and interactive experiences. The event was especially curated to address the underlying health needs of the older population within the community and empower more Singaporeans to proactively take charge of their health.

A Day of Active Living and Health Education

Residents of all ages enjoyed a full day of meaningful activities and free health checks, including:

• Eye Screenings by Eagle Eye Centre
• Sleep Health Assessments by HMI Medical Centre
• Blood Pressure & BMI Checks by OneCare Medical
• Ageing Simulation & CPR Demos with hands-on guidance from HMI Institute of Health Sciences

The popular passport challenge encouraged participants to complete various health activities and redeem a wellness goodie bag — turning health education into a fun, family-friendly experience.

A series of engaging health talks and wellness programmes also ran throughout the day, offering the public insights into topics such as eye health, skin health, and sleep health, while equipping them with lifesaving skills. These sessions reflected the wide spectrum of care HMI Medical provides throughout a patient’s journey — from primary care and specialist care to community outreach, led by HMI Institute, HMI Medical’s social enterprise arm that has served the community for over 20 years.

Community-Led Health for a Healthier Nation

This initiative was launched in response to key findings from a national health survey conducted by HMI Medical in 2024 among 1,000 Singapore residents. The results revealed crucial insights that informed the design of this event and aligned with national priorities such as Healthier SG and Age Well SG, especially in the context of a rapidly ageing population — where 1 in 4 Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above by 2030.

Key survey insights included:

• Around 1 in 3 Singaporeans (31%) wanted healthcare providers to work more closely with community institutions to promote health and wellness initiatives.
• 1 in 2 residents only seek medical help when symptoms appear, highlighting the need for a stronger focus on preventive care.
• Less than half (49%) had gone for a standard health check-up or screening in the past 12 months.

Spotlight on HMI Cares: Health for All

The event also marked the official launch of HMI Cares, HMI Medical’s new community health initiative in honour of SG60.

“Today’s event also holds high significance for us,” said Dr Walter Lim, CEO of HMI Singapore. “It marks the launch of our HMI Cares initiative, which supports our community pledge to build a healthier society together and kicks off a series of SG60-related community health initiatives that promote value-based care and healthier living.”

By partnering with Canberra CC for our inaugural health event, we aim to empower residents to make informed decisions about their health — even before they become our patients. This commitment will also help drive greater participation in the Healthier SG Programme, particularly among older Singaporeans.

HMI Cares will continue to bring health initiatives into the community throughout the year — from health talks to pop-up screenings — all aimed at improving health literacy, raising awareness, and encouraging preventive care for all ages.

Thank You for Being Part of It

HMI Medical extends our warmest thanks to all residents, volunteers, and community partners — including Eagle Eye Centre, OneCare Medical, HMI Medical Centre, and HMI Institute of Health Sciences — for making this inaugural carnival a resounding success.

Together, we’re building a healthier and more connected Singapore — one community at a time.