TROPMED urged to keep pace with regional healthscape

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Chronic non-communicable diseases, previously endemic mainly in the developed world, has now spread to other areas of the globe due in part to changes in diet, lifestyle and the escalating rate of urbanisation, Borneo Bulletin reported.

“Thus, in the face of these impending health threats brought about by increasing urbanisation, I urge Tropical Medicine and Public Health (TROPMED) Network to continue to align itself and keep pace with the regional developmental momentum through enhanced education, training and research.”

This was yesterday said by Ak Abdullah bin Pg Hj Tengah, a personal representative of the Ministry of Education as well as the Minister of Education Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong at the 51st Governing Board meeting of SEAMEO TROPMED Network.

Ak Abdullah further said, TROPMED Network must now demonstrate increased commitment towards addressing the current challenges faced by the people of our region, in particular, by giving greater focus on the condition of our youths and members of our school population.

It is clear to us that the promotion of transnational collaboration must remain a top priority for the TROPMED Network, especially through the Initiative of Asean Integration.

“This initiative is committed to developing the community as well as further enhancing Asean’s competitiveness as a region. This year, I had the privilege to visit the TROPMED Regional Centre for Microbiology, Parasitology and Entomology in Malaysia and the Regional Centre for Public Health, Hospital Administration and Occupational Health in the Philippines.

“During these visits, I witnessed firsthand our joint efforts to improve our people’s quality of life, and how a dedication towards improving the human condition could easily transcend national boundaries.

“As a president of the SEAMEO Council, I pledged my full support not just to these efforts, but to all efforts of every SEAMEO organisation centre to achieve our shared strategic goals,” he said,

SEAMEO TROPMED Network is a regional cooperation network established in 1966 for education, training and research in tropical medicine and public health.

The agenda of the 51st meeting include accomplishment reports of the regional centres and network office, statements/reports of member countries and development partners and discussion of administrative issues and resolutions of the board.