News

The third instalment of the Southeast Asia Health Security Roundtable Series took place from 24 to 25 May 2024 at Parkroyal On Beach Road. Themed "Leadership and Communication in Major Epidemics", the roundtable aims to support regional and national capacities for detecting and responding effectively to infectious disease outbreaks by fostering regional dialogue on health security.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2024 is "Protecting children from tobacco industry interference" to protect our future generations. In spite of decades of public education about the harms of smoking, the #tobacco industry continues to employ marketing tactics and lobbying efforts to downplay the risks and addict new generations to tobacco. In a Lancet publication, Assistant Professor Yvette van der Ejik and her team found that many countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are well-positioned for the #tobaccoendgame but lack explicit targets. To achieve the tobacco endgame, strong political and public support is vital, alongside denormalising the tobacco industry.

Antibiotics are a global public good that prolong lives, reduce disabilities, and enable other life-saving medical interventions such as surgery. Antimicrobial resistance threatens this backbone of modern medicine, and is estimated to have contributed to almost 5 million deaths in 2019 alone. As the world’s set of effective antibiotics narrow, the very young, very old and severely ill will be the ones to suffer the most, even in Singapore and other high-income countries.

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Swapnil Mishra on being conferred the NUS Presidential Young Professorship (PYP) award – making him the first Presidential Young Professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH). The prestigious PYP award is designed to help the University attract and retain the most talented and promising early career academics, enabling them to develop into world-class scholars.

The School is pleased to announce the appointment of Associate Professor Adeline Seow as the new leader of the Epidemiology domain, effective 1 June 2024. In this pivotal role, she will oversee the domain’s teaching and research capabilities, collaborating closely with the School’s leadership and faculty to further expand the scope as well as elevate the quality and vitality of its activities.

On 11 April 2024, a delegation from the School visited Cambodia’s Ministry of Health (MOH). The purpose of this visit was to strengthen strategic partnerships between the Cambodia MOH and NUS in areas such as health training, capacity building, research, and public health initiatives. The delegation led by Dean, Prof Teo Yik Ying, included Vice Dean of Global Health, Prof Hsu Li Yang, UHS-SPH Integrated Research Programme Leader, Assoc Prof Siyan Yi and Asst Prof Kiesha Prem amongst others were warmly welcomed by His Excellency Professor Chhang Ra, Minister of Health, Cambodia. During the meeting, key areas of current and future public health topics and initiatives were discussed. Emphasis was placed on bolstering the health workforce capacity in Cambodia through comprehensive research and medical training programs. Collaborative efforts centered around addressing pressing health issues such as antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and the growing field of digital health development were also deliberated upon. The Cambodian MOH shed light on their current priorities encompassing health education, infectious disease prevention, NCD management, climate change, and the development of healthcare infrastructure. Specific strategies were discussed, including the development of national guidelines for cancer, refining protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension, and deploying digital health services to drive healthcare innovation. Following the fruitful dialogue, several outcomes and future directions emerged, marking a significant milestone in the trajectory of collaboration and exchange. It was agreed that expertise and resources from Singapore will be shared moving forward. These include antimicrobial stewardship, medical training, NCD guidelines, and digital health services. There was also keen interest in potential collaborations in future training programs, research initiatives, and the implementation of national health strategies. Plans were also brought up for the establishment of a new department of digital health and the appointment of a director for digital health in Cambodia. This visit was pivotal as it laid the groundwork for a shared commitment towards advancing public health in the region, transcending geographical boundaries to pave the way for a healthier and more resilient future for all.

Pre-emptive pharmacogenomics (PPGx) involves testing an individual's genes beforehand to identify genetic variations that raise the risk of negative reactions to specific medications. This proactive testing can expedite drug selection in emergencies by identifying suitable medications based on a patient's genetic profile. A pilot study funded by Precision Health Research Singapore (PRECISE) and led by the NUS Medical Organization, including the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, aims to incorporate pre-emptive pharmacogenomics (PPGx) into routine clinical practise.

Deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion spreads diseases from animals to humans. Destroying biodiversity-rich forests enables diseases to easily transfer from wildlife to humans. To mitigate health risks, urgent global cooperation and proactive measures are needed to address deforestation and its link to disease transmission. Hear from Associate Professor Kimberly Fornace as she sheds light on the critical importance of these efforts in safeguarding human health and preventing further outbreaks.

As dengue cases continue to rise, projections indicate that the Aedes mosquito may potentially impact 60% of the global population by 2080. Implementing a multifaceted approach, including better living standards, urban planning, and mosquito control, is crucial to mitigate dengue risks and its public health impact. Hear from Professor Ooi Eng Eong, as he discuss the critical role of practical public health measures and comprehensive interventions in dengue control, while also considering climate factors in future city planning.

The Asia Centre for Health Security (ACHS) was launched on the 17 April at an inaugural dinner that was attended by Guest of Honour, Adjunct Professor Derrick Heng, Deputy Director-General of Health (Public Health), and representatives from government agencies, academic institutions and delegates from the Southeast Asia Strategic Biosecurity Dialogue organised by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

In 2023, the number of seniors aged 65 and above living alone increased significantly to 78,135, up from 58,000 in 2018. Among those who are married, some may have children who have migrated abroad or live separately from their parents. Additionally, many seniors express their desire to live independently. With these trends, the question arises: who will take care of seniors, and where will they go?

The World Economic Forum reported that #climatechange is likely to cause an additional 14.5 million fatalities and $12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide by 2050. Climate change can directly and indirectly impact public health, exacerbating half of #infectiousdiseases and affecting both air and water quality. Hear from Assistant Professor Yann Felix Boucher as he delves into the innovative use of data and technology to drive climate change research and discusses the impact of climate change on vulnerable countries.