CONSTRUCTING CARE COLLABORATION'S ANNUAL HEALTH SCREENING CARNIVAL 2025

Constructing Care Collaboration (CCC) is a local community involvement project (LCIP) consisting of the collaboration of students from both NTU-LKC Medicine and NUS-YLL Medicine to improve healthcare accessibility and serve our hardworking Migrant Workers. The Health Screening Carnival event was held in partnership with National Healthcare Group's (NHG) Family Medicine Residency and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) Physiotherapy.

On 30th March 2025, Constructing Care Collaboration (CCC) held its annual Migrant Worker Health Carnival at Terusan Recreation Centre. Situated in the heart of the migrant worker residences, the event saw a fantastic turnout, allowing volunteers to provide comprehensive and accessible health screening services to the community. The carnival took place within one of the multipurpose halls, with screening stations strategically arranged to ensure smooth flow and efficiency throughout the evening.

Registration

The screening journey began at the Registration Station, where participants’ basic details were recorded, and each Migrant Brother received a personal screening form to accompany them through subsequent stations. Their relevant medical and personal history was noted, and they continued on to the rest of the screening.

Migrant Brother undergoing Registration before embarking on the Screening Journey

Triage:

1) Height and Weight

As the first part of the triage procedure, participants had their height and weight measured. Values were subsequently used to calculate their BMI and classify their health status accordingly. Those at risk of Diabetes were then classified to go for additional blood glucose check before their Doctor and Medical consultation.

Migrant Brother undergoing the Height and Weight check

2) Blood Pressure

Using automatic sphygmomanometers, student volunteers assessed blood pressure levels. Participants with readings indicating hypotension or hypertension were referred to on-site doctors for further consultation.

Student volunteer assisting in taking the blood pressure using an automatic sphygmomanometer

3) Blood Glucose

For those with diabetic risks flagged earlier, a Point-of-Care Test (POCT) blood glucose test was conducted. These finger-prick blood glucose tests were conducted to identify hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Our student volunteers could practice the clinical skills they picked up from our prior practical lessons in learning to measure blood glucose levels. Participants with abnormal results were flagged for medical follow-up, with doctors explaining the results to them during their medical consultation. They were also referred for follow-up beyond our screening with their primary care providers.

Our LKC student volunteer conducting capillary blood glucose test under supervision!

Medical Consultation and Referrals

At the Medical and Doctor Consultation Station, doctors from NHG (National Healthcare Group) Family Medicine explained screening results, addressed health concerns, and provided health education on chronic conditions, risk factors, and preventive strategies. Additionally, where necessary, they would issue referrals for further medical evaluation with their primary care providers.

Doctor assessing a Migrant Brother with mobility concerns

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists and physiotherapy students from SIT (Singapore Institute of Technology) engaged participants in discussions on maintaining musculoskeletal health. They also demonstrated simple stretching and mobility exercises to reduce risk of occupational injuries, promote rehabilitation and joint wellness.

Physiotherapist demonstrating stretching exercises with students and migrant brothers following along

Health Education

Volunteers led interactive discussions on dental hygiene, balanced nutrition, and responsible alcohol consumption. There were also posters on the '3 highs', with hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol and diabetes (high blood sugar) to educate them of common chronic conditions they may face. Migrant workers were encouraged to ask questions and share their personal experiences, fostering two-way learning and empowerment.

Informative posters on the chronic conditions of Diabetes, High Cholesterol and Hypertension in English, Tamil and Bengali respectively.

Goodie Bag Collection

To conclude the carnival, each participant who completed all screening stations received a goodie bag containing snacks, arm sleeves, and pain-relief patches; small tokens of appreciation for their participation and commendable hard work.

A student volunteer eagerly holding the goodie bags for distribution!

With the collective effort of Constructing Care Collaboration, our dedicated volunteers, NHG Family Medicine, and SIT Physiotherapy, this year’s carnival successfully screened 355 Migrant Workers on 30th March 2025 at Terusan Recreation Centre!

CCC extends our heartfelt thanks to every volunteer, healthcare partner, and most importantly, to our migrant brothers: the backbone of our nation. We hope this event provided meaningful insights and encouragement for your well-being and health. Thank you for your active participation and for coming down to our event on a Sunday evening. We look forward to welcoming everyone again at next year’s screening on 18th January 2026!

~ Written by Marsha Lenin (Publicity Committee) and Sanjuana Dharmaraj (Project Director, LKC) #ConstructingCareCollaboration #CCC #HealthScreening