By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : Experts say taxi-drivers have a higher risk of
contracting heart diseases compared to others.
This is because many of them drive for long hours at a stretch or
are just too tired to exercise after work.
But there are plans to help these cabbies keep their health in
check.
Lai Jun Meng, a cabbie for over 20 years, drives for up to 12 hours
each day, leaving him little time to exercise.
"We feel it ourselves, we at our age, if we lack exercise, staying
in the vehicle for over 10 hours and no sweating, not good for
health and might increase our blood pressure, diabetes," he
said.
But taxi drivers like him may just get their chance to do so.
The Singapore Heart Foundation is working with a taxi company to
get some 10,000 of its cabbies to exercise and monitor their blood
pressure.
John Cheong, CEO of Singapore Heart Foundation, said: "We are going
to provide them with some blood pressure gauge, machines at some of
the kiosks where the taxi-drivers normally settle down during their
break hours.
"These machines are actually meant for them to test their own blood
pressure, their pulse, which we will provide some kind of book to
monitor their own performance."
Taxi drivers are encouraged to do this daily and they can also do
simplified exercise routines during their spare time.
Dr Low Lip Ping, Chairman of the Singapore Heart Foundation, said:
"Most taxi-drivers are men and men in general are more likely to
have a heart disease...they may be more prone to obesity.
"Taxi-drivers, generally speaking are not young. They are usually
middle age or older and age is also a factor."
Coffeshops are resting points for taxi-drivers.
According to one shopowner, most of them usually take a break for
an hour or so, catch up with fellow drivers, have a coffee or two
before heading off.
Younger Singaporeans have not been left out of the healthy
lifestyle drive.
One in 10 students are overweight and as heart disease can also
stem from obesity, the Singapore Heart Foundation will soon be
introducing a skipping rope programme to 180 primary schools.
It also hopes to raise $1.5 million this year to roll out other
programmes for the community.
In 1997, 67 out of 100,000 people died from a heart attack, and the
foundation is hoping to halve the number by 2010. - CNA/de