Health and well-being resources for migrant workers

A healthy diet replenishes the body's nutritional needs and supports tissue repair leading to overall well-being. Good nutrition is also key to good mental and physical health. Long-term poor nutrition may lead to costly diseases, including strokes, heart diseases and some cancers.

Find out how to include healthy options in your daily meals with these tips:

Debunking myths about nutrition

Drink 8 cups of water

Eat healthy, live happy

Healthy snacks

8 hidden sugar bombshells in your diet

Healthy cooking – Chicken Biryani

Healthy cooking – Assam Fish Curry

Regular physical activity enhances your mental well-being by releasing ‘feel-good hormones’ such as endorphins. Exercise also helps to burn calories, get rid of excess body fat and control your body weight. It reduces the risks of chronic diseases and its complications such as heart attacks and stroke.

Find out more on how you and your friends can stay healthy through physical activities:

Physical activity

Home workouts for you and your friends

Long-term alcohol use and misuse can have serious health risks such as liver disease, cancers and stomach ulcers. Alcohol when consumed in excess will also impair judgment and lead to riskier actions. In its most severe form, alcohol addiction is a chronic disorder where you may not have control over your alcohol intake.

Find out more on alcohol addiction and how you and your friends can seek help:

Alcohol use

All forms of tobacco are harmful and addictive. There is no safe tobacco product. Cigarette smoking exposes your body to very harmful chemicals that can cause cancer. Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke puts you at a higher risk for cancer, stroke, heart and lung disease, and airway infections that can affect your quality of life.

Find out more on how you can quit smoking safely:

Tobacco use

Diabetes

High cholesterol

Hypertension

How to handle issues at work

• English
• Bengali
• Burmese
• Mandarin
• Tamil
• Thai
• Vietnamese

How to deal with personal problems

How to cope with living in a new country

Self-care tips migrant workers

Light up your life guide

Staying well and informed on mental health

Wellness in mind and body

• English
• Bengali
• Mandarin
• Tamil

Videos on counselling helplines available for migrant workers

World suicide prevention day

Available channels for migrant workers to seek help

Psychological first aid guide for employers and dormitory operators

Dental care tips

Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes rashes with small, itchy blisters on the skin of the whole body. Symptoms may include fever, headache and body ache, which is then followed by the characteristic rash. It can spread easily from one person to another through droplet transmission often via direct contact.

Persons who have not had the infection or vaccination against chickenpox are more likely to be infected. While Chickenpox is harmless to most people, it can lead to complications in people with weaker immune systems. Seek medical attention if you have these symptoms and get vaccinated to protect yourself from Chickenpox

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people who are vaccinated and are infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and self-recover. However, COVID-19 can result in severe disease in those who are not vaccinated. Protect yourself and others from infection by keeping updated on your vaccinations and maintain good personal hygiene practices as such washing your hands frequently.

Protect yourself and others from infection by: 

• Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations
• Maintaining good personal hygiene practices 

How you can reduce the spread of COVID-19?

Dr Ashif explains what is COVID-19

Foreign workers talk about COVID-19

Dengue fever is a tropical disease caused by a virus that is carried by the Aedes mosquito. The virus can cause fever, headaches, rashes and pain throughout the body. In rare cases, Dengue fever can lead to more serious medical complications and even death.

To prevent the spread of Dengue, it is important to stop the breeding of mosquitoes at your residence such as dormitories and at worksites.

You can take simple steps to protect yourself and your friends from dengue:

• Protect yourself against mosquito bites. Apply a mosquito repellent to exposed skin or clothing. Wear light-coloured clothing or long sleeves and pants for maximum coverage.
• Spray insecticide in dark corners around the room.
• Prevent mosquito breeding at worksite or dormitories. Do not let water stagnate in any containers.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that is caused by the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox is generally a self-recovering illness that presents with fever and rash. However, serious complications or death can occur in some individuals. Good hygiene habits can protect you and your friends from getting infected with the virus.

As the vast majority of current cases are spread through sexual encounters, avoiding high risk sexual activities (e.g. multiple partners) will protect yourself from being infected or further disease transmission.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. These infections may spread via vaginal, anal or oral sex. While some people may not show any symptoms of being infected, you should look out for the following symptoms:

• Sores or bumps on genitals, near your mouth or rectal area
• Painful or burning feeling during urination
• Discharge from the penis
• Swollen lymph nodes near your genitals
• Rashes on hands, feet and rectal area

You should see a doctor immediately and seek treatment if:

• You have symptoms of a STI.
• You are sexually active and think you may have been exposed to STIs through your partner.

There may be serious health risks involved with STIs so it is important to protect yourself through safe sex practices.

If you are infected and need to talk to someone about how you feel, call the following helpline:

HealthServe’s helpline: 3129 5000

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. It is treatable and hence is important for TB patients to complete their medications as directed.

You can get infected if you inhale small droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person. Generally, after 2 weeks of medication, the TB patient will no longer be infectious.

Look out for the following symptoms of TB:

• Coughing blood
• Fever
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Prolonged cough
• Tiredness
• Night sweats
• Weight loss

You should see a doctor immediately if you have the above symptoms. If infected, you must complete the whole course of medication to be cured.

Here are some TB prevention tips that you can share with your friends:

• Practice good hygiene habits such as frequent hand washing with soap and not sharing food and drinks
• Go for a medical check-up at any Medical Centre for Migrant Workers (MCMWs) if you suspect any TB symptoms
• Adopt healthier lifestyle practices to make your immune system strong

How to seek medical help

Revamped FWMOMCare App

You can use FWMOMCare to monitor your health, access medical records, and seek medical help.

Primary care plan

Employers can buy a Primary Care Plan to cover the outpatient costs for workers. Learn more about getting medical services under the PCP.

For more information, download the e-booklet.