Balaji Sadasivan facts for kids
Balaji Sadasivan (11 July 1955 – 27 September 2010) was an important person in Singapore. He was a talented brain surgeon and later became a politician. He served Singapore in different government roles, including helping with health and foreign affairs. He also worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve health around the world.
Quick facts for kids
Balaji Sadasivan
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Sadasivan in June 2010
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| Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 30 May 2006 – 27 September 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts | |
| In office 12 August 2004 – 31 March 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Succeeded by | Lui Tuck Yew |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC (Cheng San–Seletar) |
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| In office 25 October 2001 – 27 September 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Ang Hin Kee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 July 1955 Colony of Singapore |
| Died | 27 September 2010 (aged 55) Singapore |
| Political party | PAP |
| Spouse | Ma Swan Hoo |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater |
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| Profession | Neurosurgeon |
| Committees | Member, Committee of Selection (10th Parliament) |
Who Was Balaji Sadasivan?
Balaji Sadasivan was born in Singapore on 11 July 1955. His parents were immigrants from India. He grew up to be a very smart and dedicated person. He had a big impact on both medicine and politics in Singapore.
His Early Life and Education
Balaji went to several schools in Singapore. These included Raffles Institution, Siglap Secondary School, and National Junior College. After finishing school, he decided to study medicine. He attended the University of Singapore.
Learning About Medicine
During his second year at university, Balaji won an essay contest. This prize allowed him to attend a workshop in Japan. There, he learned about Minamata disease. This was a serious illness caused by mercury pollution. This experience inspired him to become a neurosurgeon. A neurosurgeon is a doctor who performs surgery on the brain and nervous system.
He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. He then continued his studies in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1984, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. He also trained in the United States at the Henry Ford Hospital and Harvard University. He even worked at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston.
A Career in Medicine
Balaji Sadasivan worked as a neurosurgeon for many years. He was known for his advanced skills and new ideas. He helped many patients with brain conditions.
Helping Patients with Brain Surgery
In 1991, Balaji joined Tan Tock Seng Hospital. He improved how stroke patients were cared for. He also helped bring in new computer systems for brain surgery. He introduced special treatments for brain tumours. Later, he moved to Gleneagles Hospital. There, he set up Singapore's first advanced system for treating brain tumours with radiation. He also worked with a company called Siemens to create new surgical tools. He wrote over 50 scientific papers about his medical work.
Becoming a Politician
In 2001, Balaji decided to change his career. He left medicine to become a politician. He joined the People's Action Party (PAP). He was elected to the Parliament of Singapore. This is where laws are made for the country.
Serving Singapore in Government
From 2001 until his death, Balaji held many important roles. He was a Minister of State in different ministries. These included the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Transport. He later became a Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Health. In this role, he helped manage the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003–2004. He also worked hard to fight the spread of HIV. He believed in educating people about HIV and encouraged testing.
He also served as Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This meant he helped represent Singapore to other countries. He also worked with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.
Working with the World Health Organization
In 2007, Balaji was chosen for a very important role. He became the chairman of the executive board of the World Health Organization (WHO). This was the first time a Singaporean had held this position. In this role, he helped deal with big global health issues. These included preparing for pandemics like the 2009 H1N1 flu. He also worked on preventing non-communicable diseases and addressing climate change's impact on health.
His Later Years and Legacy
In 2008, Balaji was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He had surgery for it. Even though he was ill, he continued to serve Singapore. He kept his role in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He also served as president of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA). He was involved in many other committees. These included groups focused on Indian heritage, HIV/AIDS policy, and racial harmony. He was also an advisor to the Tamil Language Council.
Remembering His Contributions
Balaji Sadasivan passed away on 27 September 2010, at the age of 55. He had suffered from health issues related to his cancer. He left behind his wife, Dr. Ma Swan Hoo, and their two children.
Many people remembered his contributions. In Parliament, leaders paid tribute to him. They spoke about him as a great friend and an outstanding Singaporean. His medical school friends even set up a fund in his honour. This fund helps medical students.
See also
- List of members of the Singapore Parliament who died in office
Images for kids
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Gleneagles Hospital, photographed in July 2006
