Earth Times
26th Jan 2008
Singapore - Cancer, Singapore's biggest killer, claimed more lives last year, causing the deaths of 4,762 people, official data showed Saturday. The disease killed 4,422 people in 2006, said the Registry of Births and Deaths.
Heart disease remained second, claiming 3,691 lives, up from 3,362.
Deaths from accidents, including traffic and accidental falls, declined to 302 deaths from 478 in 2006, the registry's figures said.
Also down were suicides and homicides, falling to 245 from 438. The improved economy was cited as a possible reason.
Babies dying before they turn 1-year-old were down from 117 to 94 last year, halting a steady rise since 2004.
"One reason can be that the government's efforts to get Singaporeans to reproduce more are finally bearing fruit among the better-educated," The Straits Times quoted consultant obstetrician Christopher Chong as saying. "They are the ones who would have gone for earlier antenatal check-ups to ensure the foetus is fine, rather than leave it to late in the pregnancy."
Facing a falling birth rate and ageing population, Singapore has introduced a series of incentives to encourage more babies. It is also eagerly luring foreigners to settle in the city-state and reproduce.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/178792,cancer-heart-disease-deaths-on-rise-in-singapore.html
