2008 FLASHBACK

COMPETITION CLOSED. Thank you for your support! 12 Feb 2009

EoN needs your HELP!
In your opinion, what has been the most eventful thing/incident (be it a happy or sad occasion) to happen to Singapore in 2008?

Was it the wonderful National Day Parade as seen in the photos above? SHARE WITH US! Add your comments here.

Closing date: 30 January 2009. The best entry gets a prize! Winners will be announced on EoN in February 2009.

What's up, Neighbour?

A Short Quiz for Yourself:

1) Do you feel a sense of belonging to your neighbourhood/housing estate? Yes/No.

2) Do you feel happy living in your neighbourhood/housing estate? Yes/No.

3) Do you know the names of at least 2 neighbours? Yes/No.

4) Have you greeted (e.g. say hi or bye) at least one neighbour this week? Yes/No.

5) Do you know who the Member of Parliament in charge of your estate is? Yes/No.

If you have 3 or more 'Yes' to the 5 questions above, GOOD for you! You can give yourself a pat on your back! keep up the good work! =)

If you have less than 3 'Yes', perhaps you will need to ask yourself why the many 'No'. Tell us what you think can make you feel a stronger sense of belonging to your neighbourhood. Drop us a comment in this blog!

Look out for the contest that will be launched in January 2009. It has something to do with your neighbourhood... maybe something to do with photographs... maybe something to do with manga drawing... maybe something to do with poetry.

Headline News from Channelnewsasia

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT YOU AND/OR YOUR FAMILY ESPECIALLY YOUR ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS?

80,000 needy elderly to benefit with expansion of medical subsidy scheme
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 14 December 2008 1710 hrs

The following is an extract from the above Channelnewsasia article.

"SINGAPORE: Come January 2009, some 80,000 senior citizens stand to benefit once a national medical subsidy scheme for needy elderly is expanded to include chronic diseases like diabetes. That's a four-fold jump from the 19,000 who are currently on the Primary Care Partnership Scheme.

Currently, needy elderly registered with the Primary Care Partnership Scheme can get a subsidy when seeing their neighbourhood doctors for acute conditions like coughs and colds.

But for chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, they'll need to wait their turn in crowded polyclinics to get subsidised care.

But come January, patients with chronic diseases can get an annual subsidy of up to S$360 to see their neighbourhood general practitioners. It is much more convenient than going to the polyclinics, and it also means a more personal relationship with one's doctor.

The Health Ministry said the subsidy will cover about 70 to 90 per cent of their total medication cost, assuming generic drugs are used where possible.

However, for a small group of patients who require many types of drugs, their medicine bills may still cost less in polyclinics than at neighbourhood clinics.

It'll cost the government S$10 million a year but some doctors feel the government should spend more." ... WHY?

Read more to find out. Click on the link below. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/396249/1/.html