By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, May 3: Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian says that the Sarawak government believes that the forthcoming 54th Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) here, would benefit Malaysia and Asia’s public health developments.
He said APACPH would have a strong impact, such as enhancing action plans to assist higher education institutions in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“APACPH would also expand their members’ networks at the local and international levels through strategic collaborations,” he said, during a press conference to the conference, which would be held from Oct 30 October to 1 Nov at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
He said that public health in Sarawak is extremely important.
“It goes beyond preventing and responding to diseases. It is about giving everyone access to the right healthcare services and facilities to improve their quality of life and live longer.
“The government has spent decades focusing on the improvement of healthcare and medicine, but today, we are facing new challenges that need more research, collaboration and innovation.
“(Hosting) APACPH here will be at the heart of community and public health education and transform Sarawak into a global hub for public health research and learning,” he opined.
Dr Sim revealed the theme for the 54th APACPH conference is ‘Transcending the New Normal: Strengthening Public Health Through Education, Research and Collaboration’.
“It aims to provide a strong platform for policy and strategy development; implementation of educational, research and training programmes, and demonstration of effective interventions in the field of community and public health,” he said.
The conference is expected to draw some 800 public health experts, practitioners and industry collaborators from across the world.
Also present at the press conference were Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international ) Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit and Vice President (Administration) for Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium of Public Health International Professor Dr Maznah Dahlui. — DayakDaily
