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Over 600 parents and children commemorate Healthy with KidSTART five-year anniversary at largest What’s for Lunch? event to date

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The Healthy with KidSTART initiative has expanded significantly, growing from supporting 120 families in 2020 to more than 3,100 families in 2024

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 February 2025 – On 22 February 2025, over 600 KidSTART parents and children gathered for a day of fun at the What’s for Lunch? A Farm Adventure food expo organised by Prudential Singapore (“Prudential’) and KidSTART Singapore (“KidSTART”). The event featured a series of activities and performances to promote healthy eating and was held at The Lawn @ The Foothills, Fort Canning Park.

(From left) Mr Joel Tan, Chief Executive Officer of KidSTART Singapore, KidSTART mother Ms Nur Farah, Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Ms Chan San San, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Singapore, and KidSTART mother Ms Sangeetha D/O Jagathisa, join more than 600 parents and children at the What’s for Lunch? A Farm Adventure food expo, at The Lawn @ The Foothills, Fort Canning Park.

Joining the families was the event’s Guest-of-Honour, Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Ms Chan San San, CEO of Prudential Singapore, and Mr Joel Tan, CEO of KidSTART Singapore. Programme Presenters include the Health Promotion Board and National University Hospital.

The event also marked the fifth anniversary of Healthy with KidSTART, an early childhood nutrition programme launched in 2020. This initiative aims to help lower-income families with children aged six and below – a period critical for physical and cognitive development – adopt healthy eating habits. The programme, a collaboration between KidSTART and leading life and health insurer Prudential as the main sponsor, has grown significantly from supporting 120 families in 2020 to more than 3,100 families in 2024. It provides monthly fresh produce packs including vegetables and fruits, as well as resources on healthy eating from Prudential.

This longstanding partnership between KidSTART and Prudential has been a cornerstone in promoting early childhood nutrition and well-being for lower-income families. Prudential has gone beyond providing monthly fresh produce packs to actively engaging in community outreach efforts such as educational workshops, the provision of healthy plates¹ for children, and resource development such as live online cooking shows and recipe cards with tips on how to engage young children in the kitchen during meal preparation. Prudential² and KidSTART volunteers have clocked almost 20,000 volunteering hours since the inception of the programme packing and delivering the fresh produce packs at least three times a year.

Recognising the pivotal role of family meals in shaping lifelong nutrition, the What’s for Lunch? series was introduced in 2022. This series features interactive cooking workshops by celebrity chefs to equip parents with practical skills and confidence to prepare balanced meals, as well as tips on how to engage their children while cooking. This initiative aligns with Prudential’s goal to ensure lower-income families and children have access to healthy ingredients and the know-how to prepare budget-friendly and nutritious meals, enabling people to live well for longer.

At What’s for Lunch? A Farm Adventure, parents and children enjoyed an eventful day of child-related health and nutrition activities. This is the first event of such scale that has been arranged for KidSTART families by Prudential. The day’s itinerary included craft and stage activities for children, educational workshops such as a Weaning workshop titled “Solid Start: Nurturing Your Baby’s Love for Real Food” and a “How to: Affordable & Healthy Meals” talk by Programme Presenters National University Hospital (NUH) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) respectively, as well as live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chef Mel Dean.

Throughout the event, families were encouraged to participate in the various farm-themed games and activities where they could collect stamps and redeem a goodie bag containing a limited edition What’s for Lunch? 2025 recipe book, food pouches and a parent-child engagement activity booklet from HPB. The games and activities included Farmer’s Market Sweep, where attendees shopped for ingredients to prepare nutritious dishes, Palette to Plate, a colourful art-making activity using vegetable and fruit stamps, and Colourful Farm Sorting, a team game that helps parents understand the importance of incorporating a wide variety of coloured foods into their child’s diet.

Through this initiative, KidSTART and Prudential are not just addressing nutritional needs but also nurturing healthier, happier families for a brighter future. This shared mission reinforces the importance of ensuring every child gets a good start in life to enjoy a vibrant and healthy future.

Quotes

Ms Sun Xue Ling, Minister of State for Social and Family Development, said: “Today we celebrate the fifth-year anniversary of Healthy with KidSTART. When we first started this, it was still during the COVID-19 pandemic and we had to do everything mostly online. Over the last five years, so many things have happened. KidSTART, with the support of Prudential as the main sponsor, has produced fresh food produce packs and recipe cards, online cooking demonstration series which have helped lighten the load for busy parents and provided families valuable tips on child nutrition and practical meal preparation tips. It’s not just about eating. As you eat together, you will also form strong family bonds in the process.”

Ms Chan San San, CEO of Prudential Singapore, said: “We are pleased to celebrate the five-year milestone of the Healthy with KidSTART programme. At Prudential, we want to do our part to ensure children from lower-income families have access to healthier foods, and share with parents how to prepare affordable, nutritious meals. This will foster healthy eating habits from young and contribute towards a healthier future. We see this as a commitment to support our community’s well-being.”

Mr Joel Tan, CEO of KidSTART Singapore, said: “We are grateful for the support and partnership of valuable partners such as Prudential Singapore, who as the main sponsor, have been instrumental, in the growth and success of the Healthy with KidSTART programme, allowing more than 3,100 families to benefit from monthly fresh food produce packs each month. Good nutrition during the early years is essential to a child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Prudential’s steadfast commitment over the years also means that our families are able to rely on their continued support, which gives them greater peace of mind and allow them to focus more on their children’s other needs. The programme has helped to address nutritional gaps and support healthier communities, while also strengthening parent-child bonds. This milestone is especially meaningful as KidSTART marks its fifth anniversary this year, with an exciting lineup of events planned to commemorate this occasion. We look forward to continued meaningful collaborations to give every child a brighter and healthier future.”

Quote from Beneficiary 1 – Ms Cindy Too Xing Di
Cindy is the mother of Ace Tong Wei Heng, who joined the KidSTART programme in February 2024.

Cindy Too, Healthy with KidSTART beneficiary, said: “We’ve always preferred home-cooked meals, and the fresh food produce packs from the Healthy with KidSTART programme have been such a great help. Using the fresh ingredients, we make soups and porridge for our son, who has just started on solids. It makes us happy to know that we have help to build healthy eating habits for our son from as early as possible.”

Quote from Beneficiary 2 – Ms Sangeetha D/O Jagathisan
Sangeetha is the mother of Vihas Vedhan S/O Vasanthran, and Vihana D/O Vasanthran. They joined the KidSTART programme in December 2023.

Sangeetha D/O Jagathisa, Healthy with KidSTART beneficiary, said: “Before joining the Healthy with KidSTART programme, we were quite picky eaters and rarely bought vegetables for our meals. But with the fresh food packs, we didn’t want the vegetables to go to waste, so we started including them in our meals. It’s been such a positive change! Our 1.5-year-old son has become curious and willing to try different vegetables, and we’re so happy he’s not a fussy eater. I also learned about new vegetables I’d never seen before and picked up tips from relatives and online to cook them. These fresh food packs have really encouraged us to explore healthier meals together as a family.”

Quote from Beneficiary 3 – Ms Nur Farah Jannah Binte Abdul Karim
Nur Farah is the mother of Arfa Ayaana Binte Muhammad Firdaus, Asfa Aryan Bin Muhammad Firdaus, and Ayla Amelia Binte Muhammad Aqil. They joined the KidSTART programme in March 2022.

Nur Farah, Healthy with KidSTART beneficiary, said: “With the fresh produce provided, we’ve been able to prepare healthy meals for the family, ensuring there’s food on the table. This was very helpful especially during tough times. As a mom who is currently breastfeeding, these nutritious ingredients have been essential in supporting my milk supply to feed my baby. It’s also a joy to see my children excitedly identify the ingredients in the pack and talk about them—it’s become a fun and educational experience for all of us.”

ANNEX

About Healthy with KidSTART

Healthy with KidSTART is an early childhood nutrition programme, launched in 2020 as a collaboration between KidSTART Singapore (“KidSTART”) and Prudential Singapore. The initiative is aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among children aged 0-6 years old, recognising that good nutrition during this stage is crucial to their development.

Through the programme, families receive monthly deliveries of fresh vegetables and fruits. They also gain access to recipe cards that teach them how to make healthy meals via simple and affordable recipes with the items they receive.


¹Healthy Plates were provided to families in the past, to encourage and educate parents on providing the right proportions of each food category in meals for their children.

²Prudential volunteers comprise Prudential employees, agency force, partners and friends and family.

Hashtag: #PrudentialSingapore #CommunityInvestment




The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd (Prudential Singapore)

Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd is one of the top life and health insurance companies in Singapore, serving the financial and protection needs of the country’s citizens for 93 years. The company has an AA- Financial Strength Rating from leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s, with S$53.3 billion funds under management as at 31 December 2023. It delivers a suite of well-rounded product offerings in Protection, Savings and Investment through multiple distribution channels including a network of more than 5,200 financial representatives.

About KidSTART Singapore

KidSTART Singapore Ltd (KidSTART SG) is a non-profit organisation specialising in supporting families in early childhood development.

We partner the government, the hospitals and the community to empower families with less resources to build strong foundations for their children under 6 years old. Our team of highly trained KidSTART practitioners support caregivers with evidence-based guidance on pregnancy, child development and assessments on the developmental progress of children from birth onwards. Our vision is to give children a good start in life.

KidSTART SG is a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) and registered as a charity with Institution of a Public Character (IPC).

Click to check eligibility and for more information on KidSTART SG.

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Sincere Healthcare Group and Landmark Medical Centre Unite to Strengthen Cross-Border Patient Care Between Singapore and Johor Bahru

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Integration improves access and continuity of specialist care across Singapore–Malaysia border

SINGAPORE –

For patients, this integration translates into a more coordinated and reassuring healthcare experience — particularly for those who travel between Singapore and Johor Bahru for consultations, treatment, follow-up care or second opinions. It reflects a broader regional focus on enabling care closer to home while maintaining high clinical standards and specialist access.

Shared Medical Heritage, Aligned with Patient-Centred Care
Both Sincere and Landmark were founded by clinicians who believe that good medicine begins with ethics, compassion and respect for patients. Landmark’s clinical foundation was established by Dr Robert Luk Tai Kong and continues under the leadership of Dr Lucas Luk, Managing & Medical Director, who has guided the centre’s steady growth while preserving its patient-first ethos.

Sincere Healthcare Group was founded by Prof Ng Soon Chye, a pioneer in fertility medicine whose contributions helped shape Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) in the region. Today, Sincere has grown into a multi-centre healthcare group providing obstetrics and gynaecology, women’s and men’s health, fertility care, minimally invasive and robotic gynaecological surgery, and colorectal services.

“Landmark has always focused on specialised care delivered with personal attention and clinical integrity,” said Dr Lucas Luk. “Integrating with Sincere allows us to expand our specialist support while preserving what patients value most — trust, familiarity and continuity of care.”

Supporting Seamless Cross-Border Care
Cross-border healthcare has become increasingly relevant as patients seek timely access, specialist expertise and flexible care options. This integration strengthens a clear, coordinated care pathway between Singapore and Johor Bahru, aligning with broader healthcare strategies that encourage collaboration, efficiency and patient mobility across the region.

Landmark’s central location in Johor Bahru near the Woodlands entry point, combined with Sincere’s presence near Tuas, allows patients to move more easily between care settings. Services in obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility treatment, and women’s and men’s health are now better connected across the two networks.

“Our focus has always been on how patients experience care,” said Ms Koh Lee Lee, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sincere Healthcare Group. “This integration supports a more holistic and connected approach, allowing patients to receive appropriate care at the right place and time, across Singapore and Malaysia.”

Expanding Care While Preserving Trust
Importantly, Landmark Medical Centre will continue operating under its established name, care teams and clinical philosophy. Patients can expect the same familiar doctors and environment, now supported by a broader specialist network, shared clinical standards and enhanced collaboration within the Sincere group.

“Medicine should always be guided by what is right for patients,” said Prof Ng Soon Chye, Medical Chairman of Sincere Healthcare Group. “By working together, we can strengthen care pathways, share expertise and support better outcomes for the people who trust us with their health.”

Looking Ahead
The integration represents a meaningful step in building sustainable, patient-centred healthcare capacity across the Singapore–Malaysia corridor. Continued investment in medical programmes, technology and specialist collaboration will support long-term care needs while complementing national healthcare priorities focused on quality, access and continuity.

For patients, the message remains simple: more access, more expertise and the same commitment to compassionate, ethical care — now delivered through a more connected cross-border healthcare network.Hashtag: #sincerehealthcaregroup #landmarkmedicalcentre #crossborderhealthcare #womenshealth #menshealth #obgyn #gynaecology #singaporehealthcare #johorbahruhealthcare #SGhealthcare #JBhealthcare #SingaporeMalaysia #integratedcare #specialistcare #continuityofcare





The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Sincere Healthcare Group Pte Ltd

Sincere Healthcare Group is a private healthcare network in Singapore and Malaysia specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G), reproductive medicine, fertility care, and advanced women’s and men’s health services. Its centres provide comprehensive programmes including IVF, andrology, prenatal care, diagnostics, minimally invasive surgery and women’s health screening. Supported by experienced specialists, modern laboratories and technology-enabled systems, Sincere serves local and international patients seeking ethical, evidence-based care. Its portfolio also includes colorectal conditions, endoscopy, colonoscopy and laparoscopic surgical services. Expanding its regional presence, Sincere has established a Patient Liaison Centre in Shanghai, China, to support patients seeking fertility consultations and coordinated cross-border care.

Landmark Medical Centre Sdn Bhd

Landmark Medical Centre is a well-established healthcare provider in Johor Bahru, founded in 2005 and recognised for its trusted legacy, strong clinical leadership, and commitment to patient-centred care. It offers multidisciplinary services with core strengths in women’s health, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgical care, and general health services. Guided by medical integrity and long-standing community relationships, Landmark continues to deliver quality medical care supported by experienced clinicians and modern clinical facilities.

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Japan’s Largest Anime Specialty Store Lands in Hong Kong – Animate Hong Kong’s Mong Kok Direct Store Officially Opens Today

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2025 – Japan’s largest anime merchandise specialty store, Animate, officially opened today (December 23) in Mong Kok, returning to Hong Kong in a direct operation format. The new store is located on the fourth floor of the popular shopping mall, T.O.P This is Our Place, providing local and overseas anime fans with a more complete synchronized shopping experience from Japan.

Store in a Prime Location in Mong Kok, Easily Accessible via Subway

The new Animate Hong Kong is situated on the fourth floor of T.O.P, directly connected to Mong Kok MTR Station for convenience. Since Mong Kok is a gathering place for local trend culture and young consumers, it was chosen as the location for Hong Kong’s first direct-operated store.

Introduced Direct Operation Model from Japan for More Comprehensive New Products
The Hong Kong store operates under a direct management model from the Japanese headquarters, significantly upgrading product supply, including:

  • Faster availability of Japan’s latest anime peripherals, manga, and audiovisual products.
  • Many products can be launched simultaneously with Japanese stores.
  • A more stable supply of limited items and store exclusive bonuses.

The Animate direct-operated store can considerably shorten the time difference in launching new products, offering a shopping experience closer to that of Japanese stores.

Launching Limited-Time Offers and Activities for Opening
To celebrate the opening, Animate Hong Kong is offering several locally exclusive shopping privileges and opening events, including:

  • Commemorative opening limited offers.
  • Elegant gifts based on spending amounts.
  • Thematic exhibitions of selected works.
  • Limited-time collaborative projects.

More information about the activities will be announced on the official X, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.

The brand hopes that the new store can become a communication hub for Hong Kong anime fans and attract more local and overseas visitors.

【Store Information】

Hashtag: #Animate

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Dhanarak Asset Development Unveils Thailand’s First Green Government City at Government Complex Bangkok

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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2025 – Dhanarak Asset Development Co., Ltd. (DAD), the state-owned enterprise responsible for managing Thailand’s Government Complex, has announced the successful transformation of the site into a pioneering green and walkable urban prototype, positioning it as a model for sustainable government-led city development.

City of Green Lifestyles by Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit

Under the leadership of Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, President of DAD, the multi-year redevelopment program reimagines state-owned land, one that treats public land not as a bureaucratic perimeter, but as shared civic infrastructure that prioritizes people, health, and nature.

Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, DAD’s President
Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, DAD’s President

“For decades, government districts in Thailand were designed to manage paperwork, not people,” Nalikatibhag said. “We wanted to reverse that logic. A city, especially a city owned by the state, must first work for human life: how people walk, how they rest, how they breathe, and how they coexist with nature in their daily routines.”

Before-and-after comparison of Government Complex Bangkok after its green redevelopment
Before-and-after comparison of Government Complex Bangkok after its green redevelopment

From Bureaucratic Grey to Green Living

The centrepiece of the initiative is the newly opened 5.1-rai landscaped connector between Buildings B and C, a site that once functioned primarily as a traffic corridor and noise buffer. The area has been transformed into a pedestrian-friendly green passage linking offices, transit access points and communal spaces within the Government Complex.

Designed as urban infrastructure, a climate buffer reduces heat, improves water absorption and supports daily movement across the site. It also opens previously restricted government land to wider public use, blurring the boundary between administrative space and the city around it.

The project aligns with Thailand’s broader sustainability frameworks, including environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and the government’s bio-circular-green (BCG) economic model. Design features focus on expanding tree canopy, increasing permeable surfaces and creating flexible areas that can support exercise, informal gatherings and community activity.

A Scalable Blueprint for State-Led Urban Transformation

Over the past six years, DAD has increased green spaces within the Government Complex by more than 47 rai, and when combined with adjacent landscaped zones, the total reaches over 138 rai, creating one of northern Bangkok’s largest continuous public green areas.

Nalikatibhag describes the City of Green Lifestyles concept not as a one-off redevelopment, but as a template for future public-sector land use, particularly in rapidly urbanising Asian cities where governments remain among the largest landowners.

“This is about proving that sustainability is not an added cost or a branding exercise,” he said. “When green infrastructure is designed as part of the system, when it improves health, reduces stress, lowers energy demand and invites public use, it becomes economically rational and socially inevitable. The role of the state is not only to regulate cities, but to set an example of how cities should be lived in.”

Global Recognition for Innovation

DAD’s sustainability efforts have earned international acclaim. In 2025, the company became the only public-sector organisation to win the Asia-level International Innovation Awards for two consecutive years, recognising its Government Complex Smart City initiative and the GCC Super Application, a digital platform integrating transport, navigation, and public services within the complex.

The awards, selected from more than 160 entries across 30 countries, underscore Thailand’s growing leadership in sustainable and technology-driven public sector transformation.

Redefining the Role of the State in City-Making

Unlike large-scale urban megaprojects, the Government Complex Bangkok initiative relies on system-based, incremental transformation, repurposing existing assets instead of acquiring new land. Urban policy analysts note that this approach provides a scalable blueprint for other governments managing extensive real estate portfolios.

“A government city should not feel separate from everyday life,” Dr. Nalikatibhag said. “If public space eases the intensity of daily life, improves health and restores a sense of balance between people and nature, then governance itself becomes more humane.”

Hashtag: #CityofGreenLifestyles #GovernmentComplexBangkok #Nalikatibhag #Thailand


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Dhanarak Asset Development Co., Ltd.

Dhanarak Asset Development Co., Ltd. is a state-owned enterprise under Thailand’s Ministry of Finance, responsible for managing and developing the Government Complex and related assets. DAD is committed to advancing sustainable, human-centered urban development and creating models for environmentally and socially responsible government infrastructure.

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