16 October 2016, Singapore – About 3,000 people joined in festivities and took part in a community family carnival, "Born in KKH" held today at Bishan Stadium. Among them, 2,241 participants born in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), aged between seven and 84 years, went down in history for setting a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the “Largest Reunion of People Born at the Same Hospital”.
The earlier record was held by The Medical City, a hospital in the Philippines, which set the record on 12 April 2015 with 1,221 individuals who were born in that hospital.
“We are very heartened and humbled by the strong show of support from those born in KKH. The encouraging response which we have received from the community for the “Born in KKH” event is a true testament to their appreciation for the holistic medical care and compassion that we provide to our patients every day,” said Associate Professor Tan Heng Hao, Chairperson of the Born in KKH Steering Committee, and Deputy Chairman, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, KKH.
Aside from members of the public, who made up the majority of the record-setters, “Born in KKH” also appealed to and saw registrations from groups representing organisations such as ActiveSG, Great Eastern, Land Transport Authority, MINDEF Singapore, National Trades Union Congress, People’s Association, SIA Engineering Company and Singtel.
The previous GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title held by KKH was in 1966 for being the largest maternity hospital in the world with a record birth of 39,835 babies born that year, a record it held for 10 years. The event also celebrated the 50th birthday of that record-setting cohort of babies delivered in KKH.
Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, who was the guest of honour for the event, was joined by Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Transport, Mrs Josephine Teo; Minister of State, Ministry of Health, Dr Lam Pin Min; Member of Parliament of the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency, Mr Chong Kee Hiong; and Member of Parliament of the Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency, Mr Murali Pillai, at the milestone occasion.
The “Born in KKH” event also included a community family carnival open to all, which featured family bonding games by the People’s Association such as rocket shuttling, giant jenga and target frisbee to encourage families to strengthen ties through play activities. Participants also enjoyed multi-sports tryouts including tennis and nordic walk tryouts managed by Team Singapore athletes, inflatable obstacle course, carnival game stalls, traditional games, arts and crafts activities, and free snacks
