News

While the spread of influenza via droplets is well-known, findings from a recent study by the Ministry of Health (MOH) have cast the spotlight on a less common transmission route. Studies have found that influenza viruses remain viable on hard, non-porous surfaces like metal, wood and plastic for 24 to 48 hours, which can theoretically cause infections if picked up from such surfaces and transferred to the mouth or nose, said Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Head of the School’s Infectious Disease Programme. It is important that schools and childcare centresRead more

The issue of diabetes has become one of the most pressing healthcare concerns in our modern society, but it cannot be viewed solely from a medical and public health perspective, commented Professor Teo Yik Ying, Dean. More than just a personal health problem, diabetes is closely linked to other factors such as economics, urban planning, societal culture, financial status, dietary habits and marketing tactics from the food industry. Prof Teo added that there is a correlation between diabetes and more developed countries, where there are usually extensive transport infrastructures in placeRead more

Last Saturday was a momentous day for the SSHSPH Class of 2018 as they crossed a significant milestone at the SSHSPH Commencement Ceremony on 14 July. Held at the University Cultural Centre, 47 Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduates received their degrees from Presiding Officer Mr Chan Sek Keong, NUS Pro-Chancellor. The ceremony was jointly hosted by the Faculty of Dentistry with participation from the School of Design and Environment. Guest of Honour, Mr Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary, Ministry ofRead more

Smart tools and new technology to aid healthcare processes were showcased at the NUS-NUHS-MIT Healthcare AI Datathon and Expo held on 3–8 July. Jointly organised by the School, NUHS, AI Singapore and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the event saw tech experts and healthcare professionals come together to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and smart tools to address challenges in the healthcare sector. During the Expo, Dr Ngiam Kee Yuan, NUHS group chief technology officer, and Assistant Professor Feng Mengling introduced NUHS’ own AI system: Discovery AI. Using hospital data, the systemRead more

The Ministry of Health (MOH) wants more powers to curb the spread of infectious diseases here, including stopping individuals who break quarantine from leaving the country, turning back visitors with a high risk of yellow fever without first offering vaccination, and carrying out surveillance remotely to track cases and carriers of infectious diseases or their contacts. Associate Professor Alex Cook, Vice Dean (Research), shared how modern surveillance would allow more potential contacts to be screened as compared to a traditional in-person examination. Media coverage: MOH seeks measures to curb spreadRead more

Some experts say that it is easy for consumers to fall into the trap of believing that a processed food item is better for you than it actually is, especially when it is marketed as a healthier option. Assistant Professor Mary Chong shares her comments on the use of marketing buzzwords that may lead consumers to over-infer the nutritional value of an item. Media coverage: How buyers can be duped by food labels, The Straits Times, 26 June 2018

In response to an opinion editorial titled ‘Why a ban on e-cigarettes may not be the best policy’, Professor Teo Yik Ying, Dean, wrote that the ban on the sale, import, use and possession of e-cigarettes is a responsible, calibrated and prudent approach in formulating public health policies, considering what we currently know and do not know about e-cigarettes. Citing Dengvaxia as an example, Prof Teo cautioned against embracing healthcare innovations indiscriminately, especially in situations where the benefits and costs are unclear. However, he also shared that policymakers should be open-mindedRead more

The NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Health Environment Management Agency (HEMA), Ministry of Health of Viet Nam on 6 May 2018. Through this collaboration, the institutes will cooperate to develop trainer capabilities for occupational health and safety in the workplace; establish integrated workplace safety and health management, also known as Total Workplace Safety and Health (Total WSH); and build holistic leadership, management and specialist capabilities in programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public healthcare programmes.Supported by Temasek FoundationRead more

The School is pleased to announce that Assistant Professors Falk Mueller-Riemenschneider and Clarence Tam are recipients of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health Faculty Awards AY2016/2017. Dr Falk has been awarded with the SSHSPH Teaching Excellence Award AY2016/2017, which recognises faculty members who have excelled in teaching, and have shown a high level of performance, dedication and commitment to teaching and learning. Dr Tam is the recipient of the SSHSPH Young Researcher Award AY2016/2017, which recognises junior faculty members who have demonstrated great potential in research and achieved research excellence.

In the latest episode of CrowdScience on BBC World Service, Professor Saw Seang Mei spoke about the problem and causes of myopia in Singapore, as well as the recommended hours per week that children should spend outdoors in order to protect their eyes. She also discussed the FitSight watch that displays the amount of time users spend in the sun each day. The watch has a light meter that tracks light intensity of their surroundings, which is then translated into hours and minutes spent outdoors. Listen to the podcast here: Are ScreensRead more

A paper was recently published on the Multi-Ethnic Cohort (MEC) that comprises large numbers of each ethnic group and studies risk factors and outcomes for chronic diseases. This is the first cohort study that looks at the health and quality of life of the three major ethnic groups in Singapore. It was found that high blood pressure is more common in ethnic Malays, and Indians have a higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes as they are more prone to insulin resistance. As for the Chinese, although the risk of diabetes is lower, they areRead more

As part of its series ‘Innovations in Public Health: Science, Practice, Impact’, Yale-NUS College held the talk titled ‘The Future of Public Health: Leadership Perspectives from East and West’ on 19 March 2018. Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of Yale-NUS College welcomed guests and started the event. Professor Peter Salovey, President of Yale University then gave a short address and introduced the speakers: Professor Sten Vermund, Dean of Yale School of Public Health and Anna M.R. Lauder Professor of Public Health; Professor Teo Yik Ying, Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of PublicRead more