Ten years ago, the world was preparing herself for the new millennium with trepidation because of the Y2K bug that never was. It was a non-event, far removed from the gloom and doom that was predicted.
A year later, the world's attention was gripped in horror as many of us watched the terrorist attack of September 11. I remember receiving an sms asking me to tune in to the TV as "war has started in America". The scene on TV was surreal - could it be real that big commercial planes were crashing into the World Trade Centre building at New York? It was. That day changed the way we travelled forever.
Two years later in March 2003, an enemy we could not see again gripped the world and this time Singapore in particular. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) struck Singapore after it quickly spread from the index case in Hong Kong. Hospitals in Singapore was put on full alert and we geared up rapidly. There was significant fear as the nature of the disease and how it spread was unclear initially. Schools were closed, Singapore companies quickly came up with thermal scanners to help with mass temperature screening, there was shortage of N95 masks and other personal protective equipment. At some point, healthcare workers were discriminated against due to fears of contamination. Visitor limitations were imposed... SARS changed the face of healthcare but we came through stronger and better prepared for future epidemic/ pandemic situations.
One year later, on boxing day, the tsunami of 2004 "crept" onto the shores of many countries and destroyed many coastal homes and families. The devastation was shocking and till today the rebuilding is still taking place. As much as the tsunami destroyed, it also united the world. The outpouring of aids and the direct assistance rendered by many countries and their people were heartwarming. At that time I was in SGH and I recall the number of hospital staff volunteering themselves. Teams were sent, supplies were packed and lives of many who volunteered were changed as they saw how every humble effort of one person could make a difference to another facing calamity.
Thereafter, the world "kind of hum along" with smaller aberrations every once in a while until the "virus of the Pigs" provided yet another scare in April 2008. It started in Mexico but quickly spread to the US and with global travel, the virus found its way to Singapore. Many of us now know of it as the H1N1 virus. Fortunately, mankind is spared of major devastation as the virus turned out to be less virulent than originally thought.
As the world's attention was diverted to the H1N1 virus, the "Mega" financial smeltdown started some time in Sep 2008. I remember thinking to myself at that time that "there is something about the month of September!" AIG bailout, Lehman Brothers collapsed and then the stock market crashed. Companies that were seen to be "too big to fail" fell. It was quite unexpected as the economy was booming just shortly before and oil price saw its peak at US$145/ barrel a few months before that. Fortunately, the economies of the world took concerted measures to shore up the financial markets and today consumer confidence have returned and the market is picking up steam again. The Singapore market has now recovered some 65% from the lows last year.
It is with this brighter horizon that we are preparing to enter 2010 - the beginning of yet another decade.
For me, this past decade has been one where I have experienced growth both personally and professionally. I count my blessings amidst the many things that have happened.
(1) My lovely daughter Melody was born in 2003 and my cheeky son Zachary arrived on 20/07/2007 (auspicious date right?)
(2) We moved into our new home in 2003 albeit shortly after that SARS struck
(3) Had a fulfilling 6-year stint starting from April fools day of 2004 at SGH and SingHealth playing the roles of COO SGH, Group Chief Procurement Officer and later on as Group Chief COO SingHealth
(4) Celebrated my 16th wedding anniversary with my wife - the woman of my life and my source of inspiration!
(5) Living up my dream to lead in the starting up of the new Jurong General Hospital and the opportunity to see it come to fruition in 2014.
2010 looks set to be an exciting year already! Many Singaporeans will be counting down to 2010 tonight. My hope for all of us:
(1) we will have good health so that we can live a life that we desire,
(2) we will truly treasure, love and spend time with our family
(3) we will learn not to live a life as if everything depend on us - rest!
(4) we will experience love, peace and joy even as we work hard for a little more wealth so that we enjoy it with the health that we have
Happy new year everyone!! Talk to you next year :-)
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