Every city houses a complex society — individuals with their dreams and aspirations, families with their hopes and fears, communities with their own identities and pride — all co-existing in a dynamic and even messy way, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Wednesday (Sept 3). Ong, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Polices, was speaking at the 3rd NUS Cities Symposium, where he addressed how cities are living entities which undergo natural cycles, thereby requiring efforts to be invested to «rehabilitate, nurture, strengthen and rejuvenate themselves». Citing Singapore's addition as a Blue Zone in September 2023, Ong said that he was «not sure Singapore deserved to be one».A Blue Zone is an area where more people live to be centenarians. The first five of such zones identified were Nicoya in Costa Rica, Ikaria in Greece, Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, and Loma Linda in the US.Recounting a conversation with Dr Michel Poulain, one of three founders of Blue Zones, Ong shared an insight. Read more