She survived pneumonia. Living alone was the real risk.

27 Mar 2026 | The Straits Times

An ST op-ed written by A/Prof Lee Kheng Hock, DCEO (Academic Medicine & Partnerships), SCH, A/Prof Gan Wee Hoe, CEO, SCH and Dr Hiromasa Okayasu, Director of Data, Strategy & Innovation at the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific, was published in conjunction with World Social Prescribing Day on 26 March 2026.

The op-ed highlights how a 69-year-old widow’s medical recovery exposed a deeper challenge: social isolation. Although her pneumonia and broken arm healed, her real turning point came from a simple craft activity that restored confidence and connected her to community support. The piece argues that such social prescriptions – linking seniors to meaningful activities and relationships – is essential for ageing well in Singapore. It underscores the need to rebuild kampung-style connections so that health is sustained not only by medicine, but by community.