Pfizer supports SMU's community project for Singapore's underprivileged elderly

• A CSR initiative to support healthy ageing
• A donation of 330 doses of Prevenar 13 ® to prevent pneumococcal disease as part of SMU's vaccination drive

Wednesday, 8th August 2012 – As part of its on-going CSR efforts to support healthy ageing, Pfizer has stepped in to support Singapore Management University's (SMU) student-led community service project, Inspirar, which is in its sixth year.

In partnership with Pfizer, SMU students are organising a wellness screening for over 300 underprivileged elderly, followed by a vaccination to armour the elderly with protection against pneumococcal disease (PD) on 13 and 14 August 2012 on the SMU campus. The initiative by SMU Inspirar is made possible by Pfizer's generous donation of S$8,000 as well as 330 doses of the Prevenar 13 ® vaccine. Previously indicated only for children under five, the vaccine has been approved earlier this year to extend the usage to adults 50 and above, to protect them from the deadly PD.

According to Country Manager of Pfizer Singapore, Christina Teo, “It makes perfect sense for Pfizer to be involved in this project as it is our mission to provide support to communities who are in most need of healthcare assistance. With the rising medical and hospitalisation costs, healthcare needs to take on a more proactive approach through preventive measures such as vaccinations. Pfizer is supporting this project on a two-pronged approach: it aims to provide assistance to the needy elderly while also promoting volunteerism among students who are making a difference to society.”

“We are grateful for Pfizer's support towards SMU's project Inspirar. For two months between June and July, about 120 SMU students have been visiting our beneficiaries to interact with the elderly and teach them the SIT exercise routine, which was invented by a previous batch of SMU students to motivate the elderly to exercise more often for good health. This wellness screening and PD vaccination initiative will further benefit our beneficiaries, as it not only helps to ease their burden, but also serves to protect the elderly from this deadly disease.  It is through projects and activities such as these that we prepare our students to be responsible citizens demonstrating leadership and integrity,” said Emily Hogan, Assistant Director of the Centre for Social Responsibility at SMU.

At SMU, it is a degree requirement that every student must complete at least 80 hours of community service before they graduate. For many freshmen participating in project Inspirar, this is an introduction to the community service ethos that is part and parcel of the SMU education, and innate in every SMU student's DNA.

Globally, the number of individuals aged 60 and older is estimated to increase from 737 million in 2009 to 2 billion by 2050. Singapore has one of the fastest ageing populations in the world. The proportion of residents aged 45 years and over in 2010 has risen from 28.7% to 37.3% compared to a decade ago, which means more than a quarter of Singapore's population is above 45 years old.

This societal issue of the Silver Tsunami means there is a crucial need to enhance and strengthen the support for the healthy ageing of older adults.¹ SMU's project Inspirar, established since 2007, aims to inspire and instil the importance of healthy and active ageing and celebrate youthfulness in our senior citizens by bridging the gap between the youth and elderly communities.

Pfizer's vaccine helps prevent PD, which is a group of illnesses caused by the bacteriaStreptococcus Pneumoniae ² , the most common form seen in adults is Pneumonia.² In Singapore, pneumonia is the 3rd highest killer disease³ behind cancer and coronary heart disease, and it is also the 4th highest cause of hospitalisation⁴ .

Age is a primary risk factor for PD⁵ , so as Singapore sees a growing ageing population, the number of people at risk grows, particularly community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), which is common in day-care environments. Approximately 30 percent of CAP cases worldwide is caused by the bacterium S. pneumoniae. ²

This vaccination drive on 13 and 14 August will benefit 10 Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWO), namely: Care and Concern (BBNL), CARElderly Seniors Activity Centres at Merpati and Circuit Road, Dace Activity Centre, Evergreen, Hong Kah North Day Care Centre, LIONS Befrienders (Bendemeer), Redhill Moral SAC, Sunlove (Hougang) and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (Kaki Bukit).

About Community Service at SMU

In grooming visionary entrepreneurs and global business leaders of tomorrow, SMU prepares our students to be responsible citizens demonstrating leadership and integrity.  Community Service is thus an integral component of SMU students' education. All SMU students are required to complete a minimum of 80 hours in community service as part of their degree requirement. 

SMU's Centre for Social Responsibility oversees several key local projects, including Inspirar, in which students can participate. Beyond these, many students take on community service projects out of their own initiatives. They initiate projects for a particular cause or support NGOs or campaigns close to their hearts. Many also go beyond the 80 hours in giving back to the community.

About SMU Inspirar

Established in 2007, Inspirar (Spanish for ‘to inspire') is a student-led Community-Service Projects (CSP) group from SMU. Inspirar is committed to inspire and emphasise the importance of healthy and active ageing in today's greying society and celebrate youthfulness in our senior citizens by bridging the gap between the youth and elderly communities.

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world™

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals. Our diversified global health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world's best-known consumer products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as the world's leading biopharmaceutical company, we also collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more about our commitments, please visit us atwww.pfizer.com.sg

References

This is a joint release and advisory by Pfizer Singapore and Singapore Management University.