Sarawak has made strides in promoting public health, but the
challenge of meeting three million peoples’ medical needs is ongoing for the
Malaysian state.
It’s hoped the 54th Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for
Public Health (APACPH) Conference 2023, taking place at Borneo Convention
Centre Kuching, in October, will pave the way for health development and
address the challenges of providing health care to urban and rural communities.
More than 800 public health experts, practitioners
and industry collaborators will meet at the event to discuss research and
find solutions to provide everyone with access to healthcare.
Recent public health intiatives by the Sarawak Government include forming the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, building the Sarawak Heart
Centre, and investing RM200m($45m) in the Sarawak Infectious
Disease Centre. The government is also in talks with the Ministry of Health Malaysia
to open a cancer care centre.
“Public health 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,” said Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak’s deputy premier and minister
for public health, housing and local government.
“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. The 54th APACPH
Conference will be at the heart of community and public health education and
transform Sarawak into a global hub for public health research and learning.”
The conference is set to take place from 30 October to 1
November. The main organiser, Asia
Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health has entrusted the University of Malaysia, Sarawak (UNIMAS) as the local
host; while the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government
Sarawak, Sarawak State Health Department, and BESarawak are supporting the
conference.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
