SINGAPORE — The distribution of 30,000 WeCare packs to help the vulnerable prepare for the haze began in earnest today (Sept 16) with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong kicking things off in his Teck Ghee ward.

An initiative by the People’s Association (PA), the WeCare pack comprises an N95 mask and other food and medical supplies, such as instant noodles, biscuits, instant beverages, canned food, Vitamin C tablets and eyedrops. The distribution is expected to be completed within a week, with the majority of vulnerable households receiving them by this weekend, said PA chief executive director Ang Hak Seng today. These vulnerable households include elderly who live alone, immobile residents and seniors with medical conditions.

Aside from the WeCare packs, Temasek Cares and ST Engineering are handing out 87,000 AIR+ Smart Masks — created by an ST Engineering subsidiary — to vulnerable elderly to protect them from the haze.

Under the S$300,000 initiative, a total of 29,000 elderly who are at least 60 years old and are living in an HDB rental flat will be eligible to receive a set of three AIR+ Smart Masks each.

A total of 110 WeCare packs were distributed today at Comnet @ Teck Ghee Senior Activity Centre in Ang Mo Kio, with PM Lee, who is Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, helping some of the elderly try the N95 masks on. He also visited two households personally to distribute the WeCare packs.

Sixty-year-old Mr Abbas Zainal, who lives with his younger sister, was one of those who received the pack from PM Lee. Saying he was thankful for the gesture, Mr Abbas added that he wears a mask whenever he heads out of his house to protect himself from the haze.

The AIR+ Smart Masks, meanwhile, will also be given out to 60 senior activity centres islandwide by this weekend. Aside from the masks, which are locally designed and come in sizes also suitable for children, Temasek Cares and ST Engineering are also giving out 6,000 Micro Ventilators. These detachable and rechargeable devices can be attached to the mask to help aid breathing. They will be available for loan from the senior activity centres.

Mr Richard Magnus, the chairman of Temasek Cares, which is the philanthropic arm of Temasek Holdings, said these masks and ventilators will help the seniors citizens who are “especially vulnerable” as the haze is at unhealthy levels.

ST Engineering deputy CEO (Corporate Development) Vincent Chong said: “In designing the AIR+ Smart Mask, we focused our efforts on a new generation mask that provides better seal protection for all ages (while improving) breathing comfort.”