News

On 5 Apr 2024, 27 experts from various Singapore ministries, agencies and hospitals came together to share insights from the latest research on the impacts of vaping and to discuss ways to address the vaping issue in Singapore.

The Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health (CEOH), led by Associate Professor Ng Wee Tong, welcomed a delegation of 22 occupational health nurses from the Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, on 9 April 2024.

Their visit was part of a comprehensive study trip aimed at enhancing their knowledge and skills in occupational health. During the trip, they also visited Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Natsteel.

It’s through meaningful exchanges like these that we foster global collaboration and advance the field of occupational health. Here’s to many more fruitful exchanges in the future!

The global health landscape is evolving, presenting challenges such as climate change, deteriorating macroeconomic conditions, and the need for sustainable health financing.
Gavi and its partner countries are facing the need for significant policy shifts to address these challenges and ensure equitable and sustainable immunization.
Hear from Professor Alec Morton and other esteemed experts as they outline a proposal for a New Compact between Gavi and partner countries, in line with the core approach of prioritising country ownership and financing of the highest priority vaccines while health aid is provided at the margin.

Amidst the persistent threat of third-hand smoke permeating households, it’s crucial to address the hidden health risks lurking within our living spaces.
Annually, 1.3 million deaths worldwide underscore the severity of this issue. Although smokers attempt to reduce exposure by smoking in designated areas or opening windows, these measures are inadequate against the detrimental effects of smoke residue.
Hear from Assistant Professor Yvette Van Der Eijk, as she delves into the implications of third-hand smoke exposure and unveils strategies for creating smoke-free homes in Singapore.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rayahu Mahzam clarified the latest data on vaping-related offences and enforcement efforts in Singapore.
Amidst ongoing concerns surrounding vaping-related offenses in Singapore, questions persist regarding the efficacy of enforcement measures.
Hear from Assistant Professor Yvette Van Der Ejik as she shared insights on the implications of legal, regulated markets in relation to the current ban in an interview.

Climate change has a profound effect on the risk of contracting diseases.
Studies conducted locally suggest that higher humidity elevates the risk of melioidosis and #respiratorydiseases, while warmer conditions decrease the likelihood of respiratory infections and dengue, among other illnesses.
Hear from Assistant Professor Seow Wei Jie as she sheds light on the findings from 14 environmental epidemiology studies, which examined how environmental changes affect the relative risk of disease contraction.

To tackle #dengue, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have unleashed special mosquitoes injected with bacteria. However, cases are still on the rise.
As of 23 March 2024, Singapore has recorded a total of 4,817 dengue cases for the year. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, the number of dengue-related deaths in 2023 reached 100, almost twice the figure from 2022.
Hear from Professor Hsu Li Yang and Assistant Professor Borame Dickens as they share their insights on the evolving dengue situation in Singapore and delve into innovative strategies to combat its spread.

The National Population Health Survey 2022 revealed that only 37.6% of Singaporean women aged 50 to 69 had gone for a mammography in the past two years which is below the World Health Organization’s recommended level, with bottlenecks such as long waiting time and shortage of radiologists.

The Law Enforcement and Other Matters Act contains provisions to expand the police’s power to apprehend someone undergoing a mental health crisis. These provisions stated that if a police officer reasonably believes that a person may be a danger to themselves or others, then that is sufficient basis for the officer to believe that the person is “mentally disordered”.
Under this premise, when does an arrest become necessary? How do we then find a balance between upholding public safety and respect of the person in crisis?
Hear from Assistant Professor Rayner Tan and other co-authors as they gave their expert opinion on this complex issue, advocating for more careful and empathetic consideration of the mental health complexities.

Singapore’s tuberculosis (TB) cases have decreased slightly to 1,201 in 2023, primarily affecting the elderly and males, including two cases of multi-drug resistant TB. Despite a slight decline, TB remains endemic, with 220 new diagnoses in early 2024.

There is thus a need for more updated guidelines and better ways to control and treat the disease. Hear from Prof Hsu Li Yang, Vice Dean (Global Health), SSHSPH, who was involved in the updated guidelines, as he shares how the revised guidelines aims to be more patient-centric while supporting Singapore’s goal of TB elimination.