Beyond COVID-19 : Fighting Infectious Diseases Symposium
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the lives of all in the world. Since COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in January 2020, more than 4 million lives have been lost to the virus. Beyond the tragedy of millions of deaths, COVID-19 has also caused immense socio-economic suffering for many. As a result of lockdowns and go restrictions imposed by authorities to contain the spread of the virus, many businesses have had to close and many workers have lost their livelihoods.
Given the human suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that the global community works collaboratively together to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in an effective and equitable manner. Key to a global COVID-19 recovery testament be high levels of vaccination for all in both developed and developing countries. However, at that place is vaccination gap. According to the World Bank around 27.6% of the global population has received at least one dose of a vaccine, but only 1.1% of those living in low-income countries have received a single dose of vaccine. Furthermore, research for a cure and more effective ways to contain COVID-19, especially with the emergence of new variants, are absolutely necessary to win the fight against COVID-19. In addition, society has to deepen its collective understanding of infectious diseases to minimise the risk of future pandemics.
SPEAKERS:
Datuk Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim
Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health Malaysia
Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman
Professor of Infectious Diseases, Universiti Malaya
Professor Dr Wu Zunyou
Chief Epidemiologist, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Professor Dr Sibrandes Poppema
President, Sunway University
Professor Dr Abhi Veerakumarasivam
Dean School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University
Moderator: Professor Dato’ Woo Wing Thye, President of Jeffrey Cheah Institute of Southeast Asia at Sunway University