ABSTRACT
The final chapter traces the work of the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association, a non-governmental association familiar to generations of Singaporeans. The history of SATA crucially brings the narrative of tuberculosis control beyond government-led interventions. From its inception immediately after the Second World War to the present day, SATA carried out a diverse body of work in tuberculosis detection, outpatient treatment, public education, and rehabilitation. Its endeavours paralleled, and at times even exceeded, the government’s efforts. SATA’s relationship with the state was unique: shaped by national prerogatives and local circumstances prevailing in Singapore, it highlighted both the possibilities and limits of a non-governmental health programme in the city-state. On the whole, official and autonomous anti-tuberculosis endeavours operated in tandem, although there were instances of disagreement over specific issues such as compulsory vaccination. In the postcolonial period, SATA’s chief role was that of a service provider, focusing on matters that were its forte and expertise, namely, mass radiography and tuberculosis-related propaganda.
