News

Congratulations to our faculty on their leadership in global health advancement!

We are proud to share that the School, represented by Asst Prof Jasper Tromp, has been appointed as the lead Thematic Partner with the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO) to focus research on the theme of “Models of sustainable financing, commissioning, delivering, and harmonising, people-centred services including primary health care to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”.

In parallel, we would also like to highlight that the School, represented by Assoc Prof Yi Siyan, will be co-Leading another APO thematic partnership with the School of Public Health from Fudan University on the theme of “Tackling inequities in health due to gender, social inequities, being uncounted, or unreached”. The research will focus on advancing equity, people-centred care, and resilient health systems through integrated primary health care, empowered communities, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainable service delivery.

Their contributions reflect the School’s commitment to shaping evidence-informed health systems in the region.

In Singapore’s endemic COVID-19 landscape, workplace measures have largely eased, even as case numbers fluctuate. With safe management measures fully lifted since February 2023, the emphasis has shifted to personal and organisational responsibility for social protocols like mask-wearing when unwell and basic hygiene.

As COVID-19 is now an endemic reality in Singapore, how can organisations foster a culture of social responsibility while upholding flexibility and productivity?

The Asia Centre for Health Security (ACHS) based at the Saw Swee Hock School Of Public Health, National University of Singapore and the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a strategic collaboration to advance global health emergency preparedness through cutting-edge research, targeted capacity building, and dynamic knowledge sharing.

As part of the collaboration, a global academic network will be established, with ACHS hosting the secretariat to support WHO and Member State States on key research topics and priorities in health security.
With the aim of helping countries prepare, respond, and recover more effectively from health emergencies, ACHS will also support operational research projects, WHO capacity building activities and training programmes, and events to disseminate knowledge and evidence-based practices to connect academic researchers, policy experts, and health professionals.

Congratulations to Asst Prof Seow Wei Jie and Asst Prof Chen Wenjia on receiving the HPHSR Clinician Scientist Award (Investigator) at the NMRC Awards!

This award supports outstanding clinician scientists conducting impactful research in #healthpromotion, #preventivehealth, #populationhealth, and #healthservices research, driving significant and sustainable impact to health outcomes of the nation.

These awards reflect their dedication to improving health outcomes through evidence-based research, and we’re proud to celebrate their achievements!

#NUS #NUSPublicHealth #publichealth #SSHSPH #health #HPHSR #research

We are grateful to our colleagues at the Faculty of Economics Thammasat University for the warm welcome in Bangkok.

Asst Prof Kiesha Prem and Ms Crystal Chua, representing NUS and the SEARCH network, met with Dean Assoc Prof Peera Charoenporn and the SEARCH Convenor for Thailand Dr Theepakorn Jithitikulchai and their faculty to discuss future academic cooperation.

With shared goals in health financing, UHC, and primary healthcare, we look forward to co-hosting the SEARCH Bangkok Dialogue this June. This partnership strengthens our regional efforts to support policymakers across Southeast Asia through knowledge exchange and capacity building.

Measles, one of the most contagious diseases, is resurging globally due to falling vaccination rates and widespread misinformation. Although Singapore eliminated measles in 2018, 10 cases have already been reported this year, nearly matching last year’s total. While vaccination coverage here remains high, the risk of imported cases continues to pose a concern.

Can Singapore’s strong vaccination efforts hold the line against a global measles resurgence?

A research team led by Asst Prof Saima Hilal has developed Singapore’s first Cognitive Impairment Scoring System which evaluates an individual’s risk of cognitive impairment using 11 key risk factors.

With an accuracy rate of approximately 80%, this innovative tool enables frontline healthcare professionals to quickly identify high-risk individuals and initiate timely interventions to prevent further cognitive deterioration.

Hear from Asst Prof Saima Hilal as she highlights the critical role of early identification in supporting preventive strategies for individuals at elevated risk of cognitive impairment. 

Measles, once nearly eradicated, is making a concerning comeback due to declining vaccination rates and the spread of misinformation. This highly contagious disease poses significant health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups like young children and those with weakened immune systems.

Are we facing a global health crisis, and can Singapore afford to ignore this surge?

Hear from Prof Hsu Li Yang as he delves into the importance of ongoing vaccination, regional collaboration, and combating misinformation to prevent future outbreaks.

How do we prepare global health professionals to navigate cultures—not just data?

We recently completed the pilot run of our Introduction to Cultural Competence in Global Health course, designed to equip practitioners in global health with the mindset, tools, and sensitivity to work effectively across diverse cultural settings.

From navigating traditional health beliefs in Asian cultures to understanding relational dynamics in the health ministry, participants engaged in immersive role plays, case-based discussions, and scenario planning. This wasn’t just about theory—it was about cultivating cultural humility and empathy in real-world practice and collaboration.

A special thanks to @Meital Baruch from Global Mindsets for her expert guidance and input into the course creation.

And to all our incredible participants—thank you for showing up with openness, courage, and curiosity. You made this pilot deeply meaningful.

#CulturalCompetency #GlobalHealth #HealthEquity