The annual Singapore Healthcare Humanity Awards targets at recognizing and rewarding outstanding healthcare workers who are inspirational role models who go the extra mile to offer care and comfort for the sick and infirmed. Among the list of the 102 nominees this year, 50 healthcare workers were awarded for their self-less dedication throughout the year. Among the recipients was Chew Lai Hoe, a member of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (Singapore). Treading the footsteps of volunteers Lisa Chong Ah Yoke and Branda Ng Enting, she is the third recipient from TIMA to receive the honorary award.

Serving in the medical mission has opened up Sister Chew’s perspective. She commented, “Having being a nurse for so long, only till recently have I found out that apart from medical treatments, what patients really need is care and concern.”

Sister Chew (middle) participating in last year’s Sutra of Innumerable Meanings sign language musical performance held in University Cultural Centre in NUS.

Sister Chew and Sister Chong Ah Yoke took on their roles  of medical executive and also in activities like home visits to the needy, community recycling and free clinic service. [Photo courtesy of  Sister Chew]

Just when SARS was threatening the entire nation in 2003, the Courage Fund was setup in hopes of providing moral support to the healthcare workers and victims in their battle against the deadly epidemic. The Fund was jointly organized by the National Healthcare Group (NHG), Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore Medical Association (SMA), Singapore Nurses' Association (SNA) and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). Supported by the community, this was indeed a silver lining in the clouds which united the entire nation to face the adversity together as one.

The Courage Fund gave out 5,500 Bravery awards to the commendable medical workers who guarded their posts with firm commitments during the uncertain and difficult time. The award serves as a highest form of salutation to the selfless medical heroes and heroines, whom of which gave their lives away while guarding the ones of their patients. Ever since then, The Courage Fund has been honoring outstanding medical workers with the “Humanity Award” on an annual basis in recognition of their professionalism and dedication displayed in their respective post. 

The 6th annual “Humanity Awards” held this year saw a total of 102 nominees, from which 50 medical workers from different levels stood out to receive the award in the form of a medallion and $1,500 cash personally from the hands of President Mr. S R Nathan.

Among the recipients is Sister Chew Lai Hoe whom is currently lending her services in Singapore General Hospital as senior nurse in the A & E Department, she is also the third TIMA nurse in succession of Sisters Lisa Chong Ah Yoke (Deputy Nursing Director of Gleneagles Hospital, 2006 Awardee) and Branda Ng Enting (Staff Nurse of National University Hospital, 2007 Awardee) to receive the honorary award.

Distinguished by a small build with a clarion vocal, Sister Chew Lai Hoe is very much well liked by her colleagues for her candid and humorous personality. Having joined Tzu Chi as a volunteer for about seven years, Sister Chew recalled how different of a person she was 25 years ago when she started her career as a nurse.

Back then, she was against the idea of medical workers volunteering their services as she feels that the credit gained will eventually fall into the names of the superiors. All these concepts were about to change when one day in 2002, where Sister Chew passed by the old Tzu Chi Singapore Branch Centre in Chinatown. It was from one of the monthly Tzu Chi magazine that Sister Chew found out more about this organization and it’s free clinics that were held regularly to benefit the poor and the needy. But the defining moment which changed Sister Chew’s initial mentality on volunteering came when she first saw an image of the Jing Si Abode (birthplace of Tzu Chi) on her colleague Dr Chiang Li-wei’s  computer wallpaper. 

Dr Chiang gave an in-depth introduction on Tzu Chi and mentioned about the stories of the “whole body donors” also termed as “The Silent Mentor” to her. Knowing Dr Chiang as one of a member of TIMA, Sister Chew made a firm resolution to study more about this organization through him.

When Sister Chew heard about the local Tzu Chi branch organizing a medical mission to Batam, Indonesia to hold a free clinic, enthusiastically she and a few colleagues signed up as volunteers. Alongside the 400 plus medical team members and volunteers, Sister Chew served the ill and sick patients from morning till night without any grumbles as the sight of the patients waiting under the blazing sun kept her going. A warm hug from the locals in appreciation of the medical team’s services was enough to wash away her weariness.

The experience in the medical mission opened up Sister Chew’s perspective. She commented, “Having being a nurse for so long, only till recently have I found out that apart from medical treatments, what patients really need is care and concern.”

This particular trip enabled Sister Chew to gain a deeper understanding of the following phrase quoted by Master Cheng Yen, “If the people who are suffering are unable to cross over, the more fortunate ones should make the move across to lend a helping hand.” Not only that, she is starting to comprehend the true meaning of medical professionals volunteering their expertise to better the lives of the sick. 

“After joining Tzu Chi, I have come to enjoy volunteering,” confessed Sister Chew.

The following year, Sister Chew paid visits to each and every Tzu Chi Hospital in Taiwan. During the visits, she realized that the Tzu Chi hospitals are unlike any other hospitals’ atmosphere which are filled with anxieties and loneliness, instead it provides an environment where patients and their families are put at ease and accompanied by caring volunteers throughout.   

In the doctrine of Tzu Chi, patients are bodhisattvas whom appear in the form of suffering, which gives the well and healthy an opportunity to give. Because of that, Master Cheng Yen has been constantly reminding her disciples to treat those in suffering with a heart of gratitude, while giving comfort and care to the patients and their families.

“Ever since the visits to the Tzu Chi Hospitals, I’ve learned to treat patients with more attention unlike previously when it was all work to me.  In Tzu Chi’s medical humanitarian concepts, it is not just about treating a patient’s physical pain, instead it is about putting in one’s care and concern for the patient,” quoted Sister Chew on her perspective towards caring for patients.

Over the past few years, Sister Chew had participated in many international medical mission, including the one to Sri Lanka after the December 2004 Tsunami. Apart from that, she has undertaken the role of a medical executive and also in social activities like home visits to the needy, recycling and free clinic service.

Having received her first award, Sister Chew hopes to credit the honor to Tzu Chi Foundation and its founder Master Cheng Yen for lighting up her otherwise ordinary life. The volunteer pledged to be even more diligent in the future ahead, hoping to become a role model for her peers in bringing out the medical humanitarian concepts of Tzu Chi by combining actions and thoughts in realizing the ideal work ethics. She hopes that by this way, she could enlist more volunteers out of her colleagues.