SINGAPORE – Ms Pauline Wee, 68, had her first child born at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) 45 years ago.
She joined the hospital to be trained as a midwife a year later and stayed on with KKH long enough to help deliver five of her own grandchildren.
“I was at the bedside of my daughter and daughter-in-law when they were in labour and I helped to dry and wrap their babies. I can’t describe the feeling,” said Ms Wee, who is now KKH’s assistant director of nursing.
Guinness world record set by KKH for largest reunion of people born at same hospital
A total of 2,241 people – all born at KKH – gathered at Bishan Stadium on Sunday morning to break the Guinness world record for the largest reunion of people born at the same hospital.
The participants, aged between seven and 84, had to produce their NRIC as well as their Birth Certificate to prove they were born at KKH during the registration process.
The previous record-holder was The Medical City, a hospital in the Philippines which set the record on April 12, 2015 with a reunion of 1,221 individuals who were born in that hospital.
KKH previously held another Guinness world record- for 10 years- for being the largest maternity hospital with a record 39,835 babies born in 1966. Some of these “babies” turned up to celebrate their 50th birthday, and the 50th anniversary of the record, with a cake-cutting ceremony on Sunday.
“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, deputy chairman at KKH’s division of obstetrics and gynaecology.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo attended the event, which included a community family carnival, where families played games such as rocket shuttling, giant jenga and target frisbee.
This article was first published on October 16, 2016.
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