Home / Politics and Government

Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association

The Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association (SATA) was registered as a limited company (under Cap. 50) on 23 August 1947. Its purposes are the detection, treatment and eradication of tuberculosis (TB), the number one killer disease in Singapore, as well as the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services, especially to the poor and disadvantaged in the community.

History
Started as a temporary treatment unit in a prefabricated hut next to St.Andrew's Mission Hospital Tanjong Pagar, SATA now operates 4 clinics in Chai Chee, Jurong, Kreta Ayer and Woodlands respectively.

1947 : Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association (SATA) founded.
1949 : Treatment Centres started functioning in a pre-fabricated hut.
1952 : Royal Singapore TB Clinic opened at Shenton Way.
1955 : Mobile Treatment services launched.
1959 : Community-wide x-ray campaigns started.
1962 : Old SATA Uttamram Clinic opened.
1993 : HIV Services introduced.
1994 : Old SATA Uttamram Clinic demolished.
1997 : New SATA Uttamram Clinic (HQ) officially opened.
2001 : New SATA Woodlands Clinic at Woodlands Civic Centre opened.

SATA's logo
On October 23, 1902, at the International Conference on Tuberculosis in Berlin, the Lorraine cross (a red double-barred cross) was chosen and adopted by the anti-tuberculosis associations around the world as the intenational symbol of the global fight against tuberculosis.

Today
The new SATA Uttamram Clinic is located at 351 Chai Chee Street. It also acts as the current Headquarters for SATA. Its re-opening on 6 September 1997, was graced by the 5th President of the Republic, Mr Ong Teng Cheong.The late Mr Uttamram, which the clinic was named after, was once the Vice-Patron of SATA. He gave a piece of land to SATA in 1954, which enabled SATA to expand its services to meet the needs of the residents living in and around Chai Chee and Bedok area.

SATA's latest addition is the branch located at the Woodlands Civic Centre. The Woodlands Civic Centre was officially opened by Dr. Tony Tan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Member of Parliment for Sembawang GRC on April 28, 2001. The Woodlands clinic was officially opened on Aug 23, 2001 by Dr Wee Kim Wee.

SATA depends on public donations and does not receive government subsidies. Its current patron is Dr. Wee Kim Wee, 4th President of the Republic.

Services offered
Beside tuberculosis screenings, SATA also provides health screenings, medical check-ups, vaccinations, radiology services, laboratory facilities and cardiac investigations. It offer insurance schemes for tuberculosis and heart treatments, hepatitis checks and mammograms, as well as health-screening packages to detect diseases like cancers, heart problems and the human immuno-deficiency (HIV) virus. Future services in the pipe-line includes on-line appointment booking, tele-radiology, CT scan and minor surgical procedures like bronchoscopy.



Author
Lee Siew Yeen, 2001



References
Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association. (1997). Fighting TB: The SATA story, 1947-1997. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RSING 614.542095957 SIN)

Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association. (1996). Annual report. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RSING 614.542 SAAAR)

Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association. [1972]. Our first 25 years against TB: A special publication to mark the silver jubilee. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 614.5420625957 SIN)

SATA bulletin. (1977-). Singapore: Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association.
(Call no.: RCLOS 614.542095957 SATASA)

Eye-dentity. (2001, August 23). The Straits Times, Home, p. 1.

Sata to improve service, revamp image. (2001, February 20). The Straits Times, Home, p. 3. 

Sata to open a fourth clinic and computerise operations. (1997, September 9). The Straits Times, p. 40. 

Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association. (2003). What's new for you? Retrieved October 16, 2003, from www.sata.com.sg

National Heritage Board. (2003). Speech by President Ong Teng Cheong at the Official Opening of the SATA Uttamram Clinic at Chai Chee on Saturday, 6 Sept. 1997at 4:30 pm. Retrieved August 27, 2001, from stars.nhb.gov.sg/data/pdfdoc/19970909~5.htm 

The information in this article is valid as at 2001 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Politics and Government>>Health
Associations, institutions, etc.--Singapore
Tuberculosis--Singapore
Health and medicine>>Diseases>>Tuberculosis
Law and government>>Health services



All Rights Reserved. National Library Board Singapore 2004.