Srinithi Rethinakumar is a Manager at the Health Promotion Board. She holds a Bachelor with Honours in Life Sciences from the National University of Singapore and is a recipient of the HPB Local Merit Undergraduate Scholarship.
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) is dedicated to building “A Nation of Healthy People”. With a mission to empower Singaporeans to achieve optimal health, HPB focuses on enhancing the quality and years of healthy life and preventing illness, disability, and premature death. HPB leads health education, promotion, and prevention programmes, creating a supportive health environment in Singapore.
Central to this mission is HPB Scholar Srinithi Rethinakumar. With a deep passion for preventive health, Srinithi is committed to fostering healthier work environments nationwide. As a Manager at the Workplace Settings-Based Outreach department under the Workplace Health & Outreach division, she addresses public health issues at their root, embodying the spirit and goals of the organisation.
Join us as we explore Srinithi’s journey and her significant contributions to realising HPB’s vision.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in the health sector?
When my father was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it served as a turning point in my understanding of the importance of preventive measures in healthcare. His diagnosis coincided with the “Let’s BEAT diabetes” campaign by the Health Promotion Board in 2016, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and combating the rising prevalence of diabetes by adopting healthy lifestyle changes. This made me realise the tangible impact of public health campaigns in helping Singaporeans to achieve healthier outcomes.
Witnessing my father’s journey to manage his condition through lifestyle changes and medication underscored the critical role of preventive health interventions in mitigating the burden of chronic diseases. It sparked my interest in exploring how proactive measures, such as promoting healthy lifestyles and early detection, could prevent the onset of diseases and improve population health outcomes.
Interesting! Tell us more about the scholarship
I applied for the HPB Local Merit Undergraduate Scholarship because it aligned with my interest in public health.
The scholarship not only provided financial support but also offered a unique opportunity for me to translate theoretical public health concepts into practical, real-world solutions. As an organisation dedicated to implementing preventive health measures for the population, HPB’s mission resonated strongly with my own aspirations. I saw the scholarship as a gateway to acquiring the skills and knowledge needed to design and implement meaningful health programmes that address the diverse needs of individuals and communities.
Through the HPB Local Merit Undergraduate Scholarship, I received various forms of support that significantly enriched my undergraduate experience and facilitated my personal and professional growth. One notable aspect of this support was the opportunity to engage in enriching endeavours beyond my academic studies. For instance, I was fortunate to undertake an internship during my undergraduate years at HPB’s Healthy Food and Dining division. This internship provided me with invaluable insights into the collaborative efforts and meticulous work involved in bringing healthier choice labels to the market and influencing consumer behaviour positively.
Srinithi Rethinakumar
Can we talk more about your current role within HPB?
In my role at the Workplace Health and Outreach division, I help foster partnerships with landlords and developers to establish healthier workplace environments as part of the Health Workplace Ecosystem (HWE) programme. This involves working closely with stakeholders to introduce various health-promoting initiatives within workplace settings. These initiatives range from providing access to healthier food options and organising free exercise sessions to hosting informative health talks and offering health screenings for employees.
I’m also actively involved in the design and evaluation of health programmes tailored specifically for workers. This entails developing strategies for programme implementation, designing intervention components, and utilising data analysis techniques to assess the effectiveness of our initiatives. By leveraging data insights, I can identify areas for improvement and refine our programmes to better meet the needs and preferences of the employees we serve. Effective project management skills are essential in ensuring that our initiatives are executed efficiently and achieve the desired outcomes. Ultimately, my goal is to create healthier workplace environments that empower working adults to adopt and maintain healthier lifestyles.
What aspect of your work brings you the most fulfilment?
The most rewarding aspect of my job at HPB is witnessing the tangible impact of our initiatives on improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Seeing positive changes in behaviour, such as working adults increasing their level of physical activity and selecting healthier food options, brings a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment. Additionally, I find great joy in collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including landlords and vendors, to create innovative solutions and drive healthy lifestyle changes. For example, I work with industrial landlords to offer free health checks and coaching sessions at their properties. This involves all aspects of planning, site visits, and engaging landlords and tenants. Being able to see the workers participating in the healthy living programmes is a very fulfilling experience.
That’s amazing! What advice do you have for someone seeking to follow a similar career trajectory?
For individuals seeking to pursue a similar career trajectory in the public health sector, my advice would be to acquire a strong foundational understanding of data interpretation and analysis. In today’s landscape of precision public health, the ability to effectively analyse data and derive meaningful insights is invaluable. Therefore, honing skills in simple analytical tools and familiarising oneself with digital health tracking and data collection methods are essential steps.
Furthermore, I would encourage individuals to stay updated on advancements in digital applications of public health and how data can be leveraged to create more effective health programmes. With the increasing emphasis on preventive health and the role of data in informing decision-making, being proficient in utilising digital tools and leveraging data analytics can significantly enhance one’s ability to design, implement, and evaluate health programmes.
