A commemorative book on Singapore’s experiences in overcoming infectious diseases over the past 50 years was launched on 28 December 2015 at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The book, titled “Overcoming Infectious Diseases in Singapore: Past, Present and Future” is authored by Dr Vincent Pang and Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and covers Singapore’s tackling past major infectious diseases like malaria, cholera and typhoid. The book also chronicles Singapore’s journey and experience in handling vaccine-preventable diseases like hepatitis B and pneumococcus, modern epidemics like SARS, HIV and influenza, and future infectious disease threats to the nation.
The book, together with a documentary and website is part of an initiative by the Society of Infectious Disease Singapore (SIDS) and partially funded by the SG50 Celebration Fund. All materials were compiled from archival research and interviews with infectious disease experts and individuals who have contributed to the control of infectious disease in Singapore, including Professor Leo Yee Sin (Director, Institutde of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital; Clinical Director, Communicable Diseases Centre, Ministry of Health), Professor Chew Chin Hin (Former Assistant Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health), Professor Chia Kee Seng (Dean, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore) and Professor David Heymann (Chairman, Public Health England, United Kingdom).
The book will be available electronically at http://sg50id.sg.
Media Coverage:
- Lianhe Zaobao, 3 January 2016
- Berita Harian, 13 January 2016