KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is actively expanding its partnerships with reputable institutions like the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and King’s College Hospital London in its pursuit of fostering global collaborations.
Its vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said the collaborations are aimed at exploring new avenues and making a meaningful impact, especially in remote humanitarian healthcare.
“We are looking forward to the completion of the primary healthcare centre as part of the new UNIMAS Teaching Hospital.
“This development not only benefits our medical students but is also a significant stride towards enhancing healthcare services for the people of Samarahan,” he said.
He was speaking at the opening of the 54th Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) Conference; themed ‘Transcending the New Normal: Strengthening Public Health through Education, Research, and Collaboration’ at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here yesterday.
The conference was officiated by Deputy Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Michael Tiang, who represented Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Kadim said it is hoped that the conference will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, fostering collaborations, and strengthening the bonds within the public health community.
UNIMAS, he said, along with the state government, is honoured to co-organise the significant conference that assembles the brightest minds from academia and research institutions focusing on public health care services.
“Our pride at UNIMAS is rooted in our substantial contributions to public health, manifested through our esteemed postgraduate programmes, the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH).
“We have empowered a plethora of graduates, many of whom have seamlessly integrated into state health departments and various health offices across Malaysia, playing pivotal roles in shaping health policies and practices,” he added.
He also said UNIMAS Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM), under the proficient leadership of Prof David Pererra, has been a cornerstone in managing the Covid-19 pandemic. Their significant role in identifying Covid-19 sub-variants and on-going research on vaccine efficacy has been instrumental.
“Our efforts in infectious disease management go beyond Covid-19, as Prof. Balbir Singh and the Malaria Research Centre at UNIMAS have been pivotal in malaria prevention.
“The ground-breaking research conducted by Prof Balbir and his dedicated team has led to significant advancements in understanding and treating malaria, particularly the discovery of monkey malaria infecting humans using advanced genetic and genomic approaches.
“This commitment to research and development in the field of malaria is an example of our dedication to combating public health challenges,” he added.
