Dr Susan Lim (Susan Lim Surgery) and Saleemah Ismail (President, UNIFEM Singapore)

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2008, UNIFEM Singapore along with Susan Lim Surgery and ParkwayHealth collaborated to present a free medical check-up for domestic workers at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Center on 9^th March 2008.

With guest speakers – Dr Ann Tan & Dr Cheong Lai Leng gracing the occasion, the event attracted a remarkable 600 domestic workers to the well-known Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre. Domestic workers from Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka & the Philippines were all eager to listen and learn to the series of talks as well.

The day began with a medical check-up that included breast examination to detect any lumps that may be cancerous. For any detection of suspicious lumps, mammogram examination was in order. This was followed by a speech which began by Dr Susan Lim and UNIFEM Singapore’s President Saleemah Ismail to welcome the domestic workers to the event after their medical check-up. The domestic workers were also encouraged to attend the talks on gynecological health issues and on maintaining healthy skin that followed in the afternoon.

A scrumptious light lunch spread was delightfully presented for the enthusiastic ladies who also received goodie bags after their check-up which included an “International Women’s Day 2008” t-shirt.

The domestic workers waiting in line to register for the free medical

It was such a pleasure to find Dr Susan Lim frequently greeting the domestic workers and interacting with them. It was also not unusual to hear words of gratitude to Dr Susan Lim, the doctors involved, and the sponsors for taking the time to put together an unprecedented event, the first ever for domestic workers in Singapore.

The event was in appreciation of the domestic workers’ contributions to families in Singapore. It was truly heart-warming to see the care that a handful of employers took to send their domestic worker personally to the event. Such a kind gesture must be noted and most importantly commended during a time when mistreatment of domestic workers’ in the hands of their employer’s callous behavior seemed to be frequent news here in Singapore.

UNIFEM Singapore would like to thank Dr Susan Lim and her team for coordinating such a remarkable event for the migrant domestic workers.