News

Close-up photo of a cigarette
3 Jan 2019

Denormalising tobacco use to stamp out smoking in Singapore

In recent years, Singapore has ramped up its measures to drive down the smoking rate, including banning point-of-sale display, increasing excise taxes and prices, banning alternative tobacco products, and proposing standardised packaging for all tobacco products....
Stack of books
21 Dec 2018

Social value of public health research

Today’s academic institutions are far from maximising their potential for catalysing social change, opined Assistant Professor Clarence Tam and Dr Vittoria Offeddu from SSHSPH, Assistant Professor Voo Teck Chuan, NUS Centre for Biomedical...
18 Dec 2018

Cost of silent risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Asia

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), disorders of the heart and blood vessels, are the leading global cause of death annually, and they are reaching epidemic levels in many Asian countries including Singapore, according to a study released by the Economist...
12 Dec 2018

SSHSPH joins global consortium to support low- and middle-income countries in healthcare investment decision-making

The Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health has joined the international Decision Support Initiative (iDSI), a global consortium working with low- and middle-income countries as they aim to make healthcare investment decisions that reflect the best value...
5 Dec 2018

Proposed measures to reduce sugar intake from pre-packaged drinks

On Tuesday (4 December), the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) proposed new measures to reduce sugar intake from pre-packaged, sugar-sweetened beverages, as part of Singapore’s War on Diabetes. From 4 December 2018...
3 Dec 2018

Food poisoning: can you really avoid it?

Preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Health (MOH) have not established a definitive link among the three recent cases of food poisoning. However, the number of such incidences in Singapore has jumped by 40 per cent on a year-on-year basis...
27 Nov 2018

Myopia in young children and the available treatment options

A study on nearly 2,000 children found that 28 per cent of seven-year olds, 50 per cent of 10-year-olds, 62 per cent of 12-year-olds and 73 per cent of 15-year olds are myopic. The study is part of the Singapore Cohort Study of the Risk Factors for Myopia (SCORM) that is...
long exposure shot of people crossing a major road
21 Nov 2018

Prof Teo appointed to Council of Scientists for International Human Frontier Science Program Organization

The School is pleased to announce that Professor Teo Yik Ying, Dean, has been appointed to the Council of Scientists for the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO). The organisation runs the Human Frontier Science Program,...
Tablets
19 Nov 2018

Dealing with the evolving threat of antimicrobial resistance

Every November since 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) and member states have commemorated World Antibiotic Awareness Week, an annual observance to improve antibiotic usage and to increase public awareness of the health risks posed...
16 Nov 2018

Plain packaging of tobacco products not a ‘silver bullet’

The recent proposal to introduce standardised tobacco packaging has elicited strong responses from diverse sectors. Many have lauded the move, including Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, who tweeted a...
15 Nov 2018

Save the Antibiotics! Hands-on learning about antibiotic resistance

Last weekend, over 500 children and parents took a peek into the world of bacteria and antibiotics at the World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW) library workshop, organised by the School’s Singapore Social, Lifestyle and Infection Networks Group (Singapore...
a person receiving an injection on the upper arm
8 Nov 2018

Common misconceptions about the flu vaccine

The Ministry of Health recommends people get the flu shot once a year, particularly those at high risk of infection, including young children aged six months to five years, pregnant women, the elderly, patients with chronic conditions or weakened...