20 July 2009

The Singapore Environment Institute (SEI) jointly organised its inaugural environmental health forum with the Society of Environment Health Singapore (SOCEH). Held on 20 July 09 and supported by the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), the public forum titled ‘Environmental Health Challenges in Liveable Cities: A Global Perspective’, reiterated the environmental health agenda to the public, sending a timely reminder to continue the exercise of vigilance in safeguarding environmental public health, in light of the recent worldwide H1N1 flu epidemic.

From left to right: Ms Annie Tan (SEI), Dr Bernstein (RSPH), Dr Davey (Griffith University), Mr Forteath (IFEH), Mr Raymond Ellard (IFEH), Mr Ong Eng Kian (DSEI) & Dr Joshi Pranav (SOCEH)

In the opening remarks by Director (SEI), Mr Ong emphasised the importance of having good platforms to promote dynamic exchange of knowledge on environmental issues. He was delighted that this forum had a panel of environmental health experts from different parts of the world to share and exchange knowledge and best practices adopted by the different state governments and agencies in tackling pressing environmental health issues in cities.

Mr Bernard Forteath, President of the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH), shared with the audience on the roles and works of the IFEH in the promotion of environmental health as well as Scotland's experience in enforcing smoking ban. Dr Peter Davey, a distinguished academia and Director of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development at the Griffith University, Australia, tackles the importance of forward community planning and working closely with stakeholders and the community to achieve desirable environmental health outcomes for a livable city. Dr Robert Bernstein, a former U.S medical epidemiologist and adjunct professor, Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH), USA, discussed US’s evidence-based approach to build a sound public health surveillance and response system to keep pace with evolving biological pathogens.

Panel Q&A Session

Through their years of experience in tackling environmental challenges in their respective domain expertise; whether in policy administration work or scientific study, we could draw valuable lessons from them to help shorten Singapore's learning curve when confronting similar environmental health situations. The forum highlighted the critical but often underrated role environmental health plays in making cities more liveable and attractive. Creating highly successful and liveable cities takes more than just engineering excellent urban infrastructure and making good on its lifestyle promises, instituting a robust environmental health management regime necessarily completes the equation.

The presentation slides for the Forum can be downloaded here.

A message from Dr. Pranav Joshi, President of Society of Environmental Health (Singapore):

Dear Mr. Ong (DSEI) and Annie (HOD SEI),

On behalf of the Society of Environmental Health (Singapore), I would like to convey our sincere thanks to you, Michelle, Hoon Fang and everyone at SEI for organizing the Professional Sharing Series seminar on 20 Jul 09.

The seminar, featuring the international experts, was widely received by our members.

In particular, I would also like to mention the willingness and the enthusiasm shown by both of you to put together the seminar details. It is very rare to find such persons who are genuinely interested in providing learning opportunities to the local environmental health professionals! 

Mr. Bernard Forteath, the President of the International Federation of Environmental Health, has mentioned in his e-mail to me that it was a pleasant experience for him to take part in the SEI seminar.  

Once again, many thanks!

(Dr.) Pranav S. Joshi
President, Society of Environmental Health (Singapore)

Last updated on 27 Jul 09