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SINGAPORE NUTRITION AND DIETETICS ASSOCIATION (SNDA)
 
Address:
Singapore Nutrition & Dietetics Association
c/o Nutrition & Dietetics Department
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
90 Yishun Centra
Singapore 768828
 
Contact: secretary@snda.org.sg
Website: www.snda.org.sg
Year established:1984
Number of members:Total Full Members 158
(Of which, Nutritionists 56, Dietitians 102)
 
Main Committee (2011-2012):
 
Office Bearers
President: Annie Chow Pek Yee
Vice President: Pauline Chan Man
Honorary Secretary: Cyndy Au Sook Sum
Honorary Treasurer: Yee Chooi Fong
 
Committee Members
Kalpana Bhaskaran
Ann Selina Chang Chia Yin
For Wei Chek
Natalie Goh Meiyan
Izabela Kerner
Leow Sooi Mee
Loh Win Nie
Ong Chengsi
Carolyn Vethappriya Jesuvadian
Alefia Vasanwala
Gladys Wong Hooi Chuan
 


  1. MISSION AND STRATEGIC PLAN 2011 - 2012
     
    Mission
    1. Promote and facilitate professional development activities for attainment of accreditation status
    2. Foster closer cooperation between dietitians, nutritionists and other professionals in allied fields
    3. Promote the awareness of nutrition and dietetics and the professional image of the profession and association

    Plans
    1. To continue with membership database updating in preparation for registration of Allied Health Professionals under the purview of Ministry of Health and to continue to update members’ profile by industry.
    2. To increase full, student and corporate members participation.
    3. To increase and promote members’ participation of SNDA organised activities.
    4. To revise the scheme of the CE and further promote a wider scope and variety of CE activities organized by SNDA; to identify topics which are relevant to the majority of members based on the membership profile.
    5. To promote the attainment of the accreditation status amongst the full members and to continually review the CPD scheme.
    6. To enhance the collaboration with other relevant professional associations in organizing nutrition-related conferences and workshops.
    7. To continue with the development of the Singapore Manual of Dietetic Practice with the new concept.
    8. To continue to raise the profession’s profile and credibility through media projects and explore launching a National Nutrition Day Event.
    9. To aim to recruit members to help helm FANS when SNDA presides over FANS at the XI Asian Congress of Nutrition, July 2011.

     
  2. External Event Subcommittee
     
    SNDA participated in three main events:

    1. World Osteoporosis Day, 16 October 2010
      SNDA together with Temasek Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic partnered Osteoporosis Society of Singapore in providing nutrition update on bone health and display of wide range of Calcium rich foods coupled with hands on activities. This event was held at Yio Chu Kang Community Centre, reaching out directly to the community.
    2. World Diabetes Day, 14 November 2010
      SNDA and Temasek Polytechnic (TP) supported the Diabetic Society of Singapore for this event by setting up and educational booth and providing speakers. The Guest-of-honour for this event was Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of State.
      Ms Vanitha Buthmanaban, lecturer from the Diploma in Applied Food Science and Nutrition (FSN) programme at TP, represented SNDA in delivering a talk on “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly-Facts about Cholesterol and Fats.”
      TP students set up a booth to educate the public on dietary management of diabetes. Ms Kalpana Bhaskaran, FSN Senior Lecturer and member of SNDA was on site to explain concepts and educate the public on the dietary management of diabetes.
    3. SNDA Symposium on “Facts and Myths about Food and Digestive Diseases”, 27 November 2010
      This healthcare professional continuing education programme targeted at doctors, nurses and allied health professionals was held in partnership with Yakult Singapore and the Singapore Medical Council. Assoc. Prof. Lee Yuan Kun, Dr. Tang Kok Yang and Ms Gladys Wong were the invited speakers.

     
  3. Continual Professional Development (CPD)/Continuing Education (CE) Subcommittee
     
    This subcommittee promotes and assists SNDA members in the continual accrual of knowledge and skills to enhance professional competency.
    The Continuing Education Subcommittee aims to:
    Review CE scheme every 5 years with next review due in 2011.
    1. Organise and co-ordinate a variety of CE activities for members.
    2. Encourage ongoing professional development of members.
    3. Issue the Certificate of Accreditation to members who have completed the required 15 CE points by the end of 30th April 2011.

    A total of 22 CE activities including talks, a series of expert’s visit, seminars and conferences were proposed by the Continuing Education Subcommittee and carried out for the year 2010– 2011 (Table 1). A total of 110 CE points were available.
     
    Table 1: Continuing Education Activities

     
    Members were encouraged to submit a summary of other CE activities undertaken during the period of accreditation, and are awarded points in accordance with the CE scheme.
    SNDA continues to collaborate with other associations and institutions in proposing wide range of CE events to members.
     
  4. EDUCATION RESOURCE (CLINICAL PRACTICE) SUBCOMMITTEE
     
    The Education Resource Subcommittee aims to:
    1. Harmonize dietetic practice in Singapore
    2. Continually develop the Singapore Manual of Dietetics Practice

    Chapter 8: Cancer – Part 1: Prevention and Part 2: Treatment (pre-surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy), under the Medical Nutrition Therapy Guidelines of the Singapore Manual of Dietetic Practice is still under progress and will be available for download from SNDA website (www.snda.org.sg). Plans are underway for the guidelines to be available in both versions, for both consumer and health professionals. The concept is similar to that of the ADA Evidence Library/Ministry of Health Clinical Practice Guidelines.
     
  5. WEBSITE
     
    The Website Sub-committee is set up with the aim of:
    1. Providing an online platform to raise awareness of SNDA and the profession among public and other healthcare professionals
    2. Maintaining an updated website tailored to the needs of SNDA members
    3. Keeping members updated on the latest events and for them to update their own profiles online
    4. Keeping members abreast of developments in field of nutrition and dietetics
    5. Ensuring that all information posted on the website is accurate and up-to-date

    Online features listed below continue to be used by our members via our fully interactive internet portal:
    1. Exclusive Login for members
    2. Online Member Profile Management
    3. Database management and e-mail system
    4. Verification of Professionals
    5. Search Functions
    6. Interactive Forum
    7. Online membership application (including Auto Reply feature)
    8. Online registration for CE activities and a CE log in where members can request for points online, as well as keep track of the CE activities attended and the CE points earned to date.

    Throughout the year, the Website Subcommittee members have:
    1. Updated the online website pages including new nutrition websites, article links, new chapters in the dietetics manual and calendar of events for the year in order to keep members abreast of developments in the field.
    2. Liaised with the website designer to create new functions to allow easier online information management for the SNDA main committee members.
    3. Uploaded and publicized articles by SNDA members that have been published in journals or public media.
    4. Uploaded archived minutes of past SNDA meetings.

    As for SNDA Hit Counter, total no. of memberships log-on for the year:
    1. Dietetics Manual 780
    2. Newsline 3268
    3. Proficiency Standards 1258
    4. Accredited Professionals 15592
    5. List of Accredited Professionals 8658
    6. Talk Slides 843
    7. AGM Report 257

    New feature include exploring advertisement column for corporate sponsors on SNDA website.
     
  6. EDITORIAL - SNDA NEWSLINE
    The editorial subcommittee aims to:
    1. Update members on emerging nutrition and dietetics issues and topics that are of interest to members, and
    2. Provide a platform for members to share their learning experiences and news on professional matters.

    The last issue of Newsline was published in June 2010. The main committee decided to put Newsline newsletter publication on hold and channel resources to organizing the XI Asian Congress of Nutrition 2011. The subcommittee would like to thank SNDA members for their continual support in contributing articles for Newsline.
     
  7. ACCREDITATION OF PROFESSIONALS SUBCOMMITTEE
     
    The Accreditation of Professionals Subcommittee aims:
    1. To protect the professional title, status and function of Dietitians and Nutritionists in Singapore
    2. Review the accreditation status of full members with CE and membership subcommittee.
    3. Award Accreditation Certificate to eligible members

    Members whom meet the requirements to be accredited annually are conferred the titles of Accredited Nutritionist of Singapore (ANS) and Accredited Dietitian of Singapore (ADS) respectively; this list can be obtained from SNDA website (www.snda.org.sg).
     
     
  8. PUBLIC RELATIONS (PR) SUBCOMMITTEE
    This Subcommittee deals with external stakeholders including the media.
    Between April 2010-April 2011, these were accomplished:
    Administrative:
    1. Guidelines for responding to media queries was developed and finalised.
    2. Further to this a SNDA_Media_Algorithm was created to streamline the process of responding to the media.

    Media Queries:

     
    This subcommittee fronts SNDA and guard the members of the public from obtaining misleading information regarding nutrition and health by:
    • responding to media queries that fall outside of their personal areas of experience or expertise, unless authorized to do so;
    • providing comments that could undermine the integrity of the association.
    • speculating about findings, issues or future policy decisions;
    • offering personal opinion on government, policies and other organisations.

     
  9. XI ASIAN CONGREE OF NUTRITION CONGRESS SUBCOMMITTEE
     
    Chaired by: Ms Chow Pek Yee
     
    Members:
    Ms Natalie Goh, Ms Chan Sue Mei, Ms Ann Selina Chang, Ms Toh Hui Kheng, Ms Cyndy Au, Ms Gladys Wong,
    Mrs Magdalin Cheong, Ms Fahmawati Sunarja, Ms Pauline Chan, Dr Grace Soon, Ms Kalpana Bhaskaran,
    Ms Liew Mei Pheng, Mr Phua Tien Beng, Ms Leow Sooi Mee, Mr Charles Lew, Dr Low Yen Ling, Ms Izabela Kerner, Ms Louisa Zhang
     
    Venue: Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center
     
    Date: 13 – 16th July 2011 (3 ½ day congress)
    Appointed Professional Event Organiser: Academy of Medicine Singapore
     
    Theme of the Congress: Nutritional Well-Being for a
     
    Progressive Asia: Challenges and Opportunities
    We co-opt SNDA main committee to assist in the organizing of the congress.
     
    Completed Tasks for 2010 – 2011
    1. Congress promotion at the Asian Congress of Dietetics, Nov 2010, Bangkok
    2. Finalized Scientific Programme.
    3. Secured sponsorship

     
  10. SNDA REPRESENTATIVES – EXTERNAL RELATIONS
     
    SNDA was represented actively on the following committees, associations and meetings for the year 2010 – 2011:
    • Asian Federation of Dietetic Association (AFDA) Honorary Treasurer – President & Secretary
    • Federations of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS) Council member– President & Secretary
    • Association for Breast Feeding Advocacy (Singapore) - Ms Ong Chengsi and Ms Chan Sue Mei. SNDA has endorsed the Statement of Breastfeeding by ABAS.
    • International Confederation of Dietetic Association – President & Secretary
    • Ministry of Health’s Credential Evaluation Panel for Dietitians – Ms Chow Pek Yee
    • Healthy Youth Committee (Hy-Com) – Ms Ong Chengsi
    • Educating for Health Conference (16 – 18 Nov 2011) Working Committee - Ms Lim Cheau Horng, Ms Ong Chengsi and Ms Leow Sooi Mee

     
  11. NDA SPONSORSHIPS
     
    In the financial year 2010, SNDA allocated Singapore Dollar, i.e. 25% of full membership subscriptions (new subscriptions) and continuing education meeting collections, to partially sponsor members at relevant conference meetings. However, the balance sum for 2009 set for XI Asian Congress of Nutrition in 2011 budget. SNDA sponsored 2 members to the Asian Congress of Dietetics 2010 in Bangkok.
     
     
  12. APPRECIATION TO CORPORATE SPONSORS
     
    We would like to express our appreciation to the following key corporate sponsors who had collaborated with SNDA, providing meeting venues, as well as sponsoring the various symposiums organized by SNDA.
     
    • Alexandra Hospital
    • Changi General Hospital
    • Kander Kerbau Hospital
    • Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
    • Yakult Singapore

    As SNDA moves towards three decades of establishment, the hosting of the XI Asian Congress of Nutrition marks another milestone for the Association, as it reaches out to stakeholders in the country, and with fellow professional bodies regionally and internationally.
     
    In the coming years, SNDA aims to increase its revenue to continue contributing to the Continuing Education for its members. SNDA also intends to nurture a new generation of nutrition leaders for leadership succession. SNDA also intends to mobilize its best resources to helm the Federation of Asian Nutrition Society (FANS) for for years until the XII Asian Congress of Nutrition.

 
Cyndy Au
Honorary Secretary
 
6 July 2011