Development of colonial Singapore's healthcare & facilities

For a number of decades after the British trading post in Singapore was founded, the government did not provide medical services for anyone staying or living in Singapore.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The government did not provide medical services for the general public. However, it did provide one or two doctors to look after sick soldiers in a military hospital, and there were a few European doctors who served mostly the Europeans and rich Asians.

Which of the following was not a problem that contributed to the high death rate amongst the Asian population in Singapore?

• Malnutrition

• Overcrowding

• Poor sanitation

• Lung cancer

In 1887, the British government created this department to tackle health issues in the town area.

What were some of the attempts made by the British government to improve public health from 1887?

• Setting up a malaria committee to supervise the draining of swamps

• Replacing the water-carriage sewerage system with the bucket system

• Clearing dirty streets and drains

• Reducing overcrowding in living quarters in Chinatown

Answer explanation

To tackle health issues in the town area, the Public Health Department:

• - set up a malaria committee to supervise the draining of swamps

• - replaced the bucket system with a modern water-carriage sewerage system

• - cleared dirty streets and drains

• - improved housing conditions, such as reducing overcrowding in living quarters in Chinatown

When was a new general hospital built on Outram Road to provide some form of public healthcare?

• 1880

• 1881

• 1882

• 1883

Under this law that was passed in 1886, passengers arriving in Singapore by sea had to be checked by a doctor. Those found to be suffering from infectious diseases (e.g. smallpx and cholera) were isolated to prevent the diseases from spreading.

Why was the death rate in Singapore still higher than the birth rate in the late 19th century, despite the British government's attempts to address public health issues?

Answer explanation

One reason for the high death rate was the overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions of the poor in the town area. Due to the availability of jobs there, many of the workers preferred to stay in shophouses in the town area. However, these shophouses were often overcrowded, unsanitary and poorly ventilated. This gave rise to the spread of highly contagious diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera, which affected many of these workers.

Another reason was the poor understanding of certain diseases in the 19th century. For example, it was not until 1897 that Sir Ronald Ross discovered that malaria was transmitted by a type of mosquito. Before that, doctors thought the disease was caused by poisonous air coming out of rotting plants in swampy areas. Moreover, most Asians did not seek treatment when they were ill due to the lack of money or a mistrust of Western medicine.

Public health in Singapore had generally improved by this time.

The process of improving Singapore's port facilities started in the...

• 1820s

• 1830s

• 1840s

• 1850s

Which of the following is correct of the New Harbour that was built in 1852?

• It had shallow waters.

• It was built in the strait between the southern coast of Singapore island and 2 smaller islands - Pulau Briyani and Pulau Blakang Mati.

• It was sheltered from strong winds and big waves.

• All of the above.

Answer explanation

The New Harbour that was built in 1852:

• - was built in the strait between the southern coast of Singapore island and two smaller islands - Pulau Brani (not Pulau Briyani) and Pulau Blakang Mati (present-day Sentosa);

• - had deep waters, allowing steamships and sailing ships to sail right up to it;

• - was sheltered from strong winds and big waves by the two smaller islands.