Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Wayang again?



Check out the differences between the Hand Washing Steps recommended by Singapore and the World Health Organization (WHO)
Singapore recommends the 7 steps technique and it ends with “rinse and dry thoroughly”.

WHO specify after the soaping, you rinse your hand in running water (Step 8 Blue), dry with a single use paper towel (Step 9 Blue) and use the towel to turn off the faucet (Step 10 Blue).

I don’t know about you, but I suspect Singapore deliberate left out the last 3 crucial parts.

Why? Firstly almost all faucet in public toilets are either those “push button” type or if you are lucky those infra-red sensor type.

If you get those infra-red sensor type faucet and you Step 10 of WHO recommendation is no necessary.

HOWEVER, if you got those push button type then you know these stupid faucet sometime only allow water to run from 0.01s – 5s with each push. So you have to keep pressing the damn button with you WASHED hands to keep the water running. So you have washed you hands for nothing.

Also note WHO states to dry you hand with a disposable towel, as it has been shown that the use of a towel is a necessary part of effective contaminant removal, since the washing action separates the contaminants from the skin but does not completely flush them from the skin - removing the excess water (with the towel) also removes the suspended contaminants.

When you look at the pubic toilets in Singaore we don’t see many that provide disposable towels. Most only has those hot air blower which studies has shows are a hotbed for bacterials since it is warm in a moist enviroment.

Hand washing promotion? Some even go as far as to give out a car to encourage people to wash their hands but are we just have the habit of doing it half way?

Monday, April 27, 2009

Step by Step instructions

Good Neighbour Award", "HDB Guidebook" launched to promote harmonious HDB living
27 April 2009

SINGAPORE: With Singapore becoming more populated, there is an increasing need to make living in HDB flats more enjoyable.


For most HDB residents, loud music is a nuisance. But sometimes telling your neighbour off can be difficult.

In fact, some MPs - who are also advisers to the Workgroup on "Promoting Better Social Behaviour" - have noticed reduced communication between residents.

To deal with those who deliberately disrupt the peace, a new penalty framework will be implemented in the third quarter of 2009. Details such as demerit points and fines are being worked out.

Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for Education and National Development, said: "We need to have something that probably would make people think twice before they continue with the behaviour. So that is the reason why we suggested some sort of a moderate penalty system."

And to encourage neighbourly relations, HDB has come out with the "Good Neighbour Award" and "HDB Guidebook".

Nominations for the "Good Neighbour Award" will open from May 1 to August 31 in all 81 constituencies.

Come end-May, some 800,000 households living in HDB flats islandwide can find a copy of the "HDB Guidebook" in their mailboxes.

Another 100,000 copies will be given out to potential flat buyers when they apply for a flat at the HDB Hub.

Channel NewsAsia understands that a majority of the 680 cases handled last year by the Community Mediation Centre were on neighbourly disputes. The Centre handles an average of 600 cases annually. - CNA/ir



I don’t know about you, but I think its kinda sad that we have to resolve to a HDB’s Guidebook to tell you how to be a good neighbour.

Maybe we has already been brainwashed by the gahment for so many years or maybe our brains had been fried by our education that we can only follow step by step guides to become a good neighbour.

This is yet another prove that social graciousness is long gone in Singapore society.

PS: Wonder how much does it cost to print all these Guildbooks.