VIVA Foundation Sets up Permanent Base at Novena Specialist Center - Purpose-built 18,500 square foot space donated by Far East Organization

Singapore-based charity VIVA Foundation For Children With Cancer is setting up its new permanent base at Novena Specialist Center.

In a continuous effort to improve the survival rate and cure of children diagnosed with cancer, VIVA Foundation will be extending its care for patients with childhood cancer in Singapore and Asia, by providing modern medical facilities, support and counsel at this new space.

The purpose-built 18,500 square foot space at Novena Specialist Center is donated by Far East Organization in support of the worthy cause of VIVA Foundation. VIVA Foundation plans to use the space, which occupies the entire Level 3 at Novena Specialist Center, to house its permanent premises. Named VIVA Hub, the facilities will include:

• Centre for Translational Research in Acute Leukemia (CenTRAL)

- One-stop centre with expertise to translate the latest advances of cancer and provides

Applied Research on haematological malignancies.

• After Completion of Therapy (ACT)

- Provides Systematic programme in Singapore and Asia to follow up on cancer survivors.

• School @ Viva Hub

- Based on the Singapore curriculum and working in tandem with Ministry of Education, the School provides children undergoing chemotherapy treatment, a safe environment for systematic education with low student-to-teacher ratio; enabling these children to learn in a relatively isolated environment with the intention to protect their health.

• Hub for children’s cancer-related charities

- Bringing charities involved in children’s cancer together to synergize efforts; improve coordination and use resources more effectively.

• Training and education facilities

(please refer to Viva Foundation fact sheet for details)

“Children with cancer, especially leukaemia, can be cured to a large extent today compared to the past, should there be early medical care, research and education provided to the patient and the immediate family,” Mrs Jennifer Yeo, Director of VIVA Foundation commented.

“We intend to use the space donated by Far East Organization as a community hub to support children suffering from cancer. In the words of the founder of our partner, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ‘No children should die at their dawn of life’.” Mrs Yeo added.

VIVA Foundation’s new home at Novena Specialist Center will likely open by mid 2011. The space was planned and purpose-built for VIVA Foundation, taking into consideration its needs and requirements. Far East Organization has also enlisted the support and assistance of its team of contractors and consultants in the fitting out of the premises for VIVA Foundation.

With this new hub at Novena Specialist Center, it will provide unique strategic opportunities for Singapore’s private, public and philanthropic sectors to work together to develop a national Referral Diagnostic Centre to offer quicker, more accurate and cost-effective diagnosis of haematological malignancies; as well as research into long-term after completion of therapy issues.

VIVA Hub also intends to help children with cancer integrate seamlessly back into the community through activities, education, workshop and counselling services.

Far East Organization’s Executive Director, Property Services, Mr. G L Yap said, “We are moved by the dedication and work of VIVA Foundation, a relatively young charity organisation that is inspired to care for and improve the lives of children suffering from cancer. We found in VIVA Foundation a strong resonance to our own brand aspiration of Inspiring Better Lives.”

“This donation is but a small contribution towards VIVA Foundation’s very meaningful mission. It is our sincere hope that this gift of space will create value and provide a lasting legacy for VIVA Foundation and its beneficiaries,” added Mr Yap.

Today, the Novena area has grown into a thriving hub for high quality medical care and services, education and research. It is home to numerous reputable medical institutions such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Johns Hopkins Singapore International Medical Centre, Novena Medical Center, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Thomson Medical Centre, National Neuroscience Institute, and the future Parkway Novena Hospital. Singapore’s third medical school, a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University and Imperial College, London, is also slated to be sited next to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Novena Specialist Center’s location at the heart of this precinct is ideally suited to support the work of VIVA Foundation. The professional healthcare and infrastructure support offered by doctors, clinics and hospitals in this area will be vital for children receiving medical help for cancer. An air-conditioned overhead link bridge connects Novena Specialist Center to Novena Medical Center, which houses facilities including Novena Surgery and Parkway Laboratory Services. Novena Specialist Center has immediate passage into Square 2 shopping mall, Novena MRT station as well as Tan Tock Seng Hospital, making it truly convenient for the community to receive medical treatment and advice in a centralised location.

Novena Specialist Center is part of a 25-storey hotel cum commercial development built at a cost of S$350 million. The medical centre will have its own dedicated drop off and lift lobby, with the medical floors well served by escalators on every floor. Novena Specialist Center features 69 efficiently configured medical suites, ranging in size from 549 to 1,442 square feet. The medical floors are designed around pockets of landscaped courtyards and water features. This enables the medical suites and corridors to enjoy lots of natural light and generous views of the lush landscaped gardens. The courtyards also serve as a tranquil waiting area for visitors and a relaxation space for staff.

Adjoining the Novena Specialist Center is the upcoming Oasia Hotel, a deluxe city hotel with 428 rooms. One level of the hotel will have medical-friendly rooms to cater to medical tourists as well as their caregivers. The development will also have a retail podium with 10 food and beverage outlets.

The space donated to VIVA Foundation is a purpose-built community space specifically designated for use by approved civic and community institutions. It is built over and above the maximum area allowed for the hotel cum commercial development. This is the second initiative by Far East Organization after the gifting of a similar purpose-built 17,000 square foot space at Central to the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre in 2003 in support of its philanthropic outreach.