The NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on 29 January 2020.
UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Eamonn Murphy, and Dean, Professor Teo Yik Ying, signed the memorandum of understanding at a ceremony on the sidelines of the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2020 in Bangkok.
The MoU will strengthen both parties’ collaboration and see them combine efforts to end the AIDS epidemic in Asia, the Pacific and in Singapore. The agreement will call for both organisations to jointly raise the profile of HIV in Singapore and the region, and showcase the HIV response as an exemplar of achieving Universal Health Coverage.
“By integrating our two organisations’ knowledge and expertise, we are embarking on an unprecedented journey to improve policy-relevance of HIV data and research and, in turn, the health and well-being of people,” said Mr Murphy.
“The partnership between UNAIDS and the National University of Singapore School of Public Health unites the global vision and influence of the United Nations with a leading public health institution in Asia to support the successful implementation of evidence-based programmes and policies, and to strengthen both local health systems and human capital, to achieve sustainable and long-term progress in managing the HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific Region,” stressed Prof Teo.
Both parties will identify needs and opportunities for SSHSPH staff to provide technical assistance to countries in the Asia Pacific region, especially in the areas of economic evaluation, monitoring and evaluation, and data systems strengthening. This new agreement will also facilitate the development of policy papers and joint activities such as guest lectures, as well as create internship opportunities for SSHSPH students.