> SEAMEO-TROPMED
In 1993, the Centre was re-designated the SEAMEO TROPMED Regional Centre for Microbiology, Parasitology and Entomology in line with SEAMEO-TROPMED's strategic planning process to allow the Centre to respond more effectively to the needs of the region and the Organizaion.
The SEAMEC Regional Project for Tropical Medicine & Public Health In 1965 the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Secretariat (SEAMES) was created as the result of a meeting among the Ministers of Education of Laos, Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Vietnam and Thailand with Mr Eugene R. Black, Special Adviser to the President of the United States on the Asian development programme. Indonesia joined SEAMES a year later. At the initial meeting, there was a general consensus of opinion that steps should be taken towards establishing some form of regional cooperation in education.
Therefore, a SEAMES Task Force for Tropical Medicine was set up in September 1966. The Task Force consisted of representatives from member countries ( Malaysia , Philippines , South Vietnam and Thailand ), and three consultants from the United Kingdom (Professor B.G. Maegraith) and U.S.A. (Professor J.S. Wellington and Col. W. D. Tigerrt). It was recommended that a Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Medicine should be established on a cooperative basis, with a Central Coordinating Board and four National Tropical Medicine Centres, one in each of the participating countries. Indonesia , Laos and Singapore joined later, thus increasing the number of member countries to seven. Since Thailand had already developed a teaching and research institute of tropical medicine, the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, University of Medical Sciences , Bangkok , therefore, it was considered as the most appropriate place for the central office of the Coordinating Board.
At the Fourth Conference of SEAMES in Djakarta during 7-10 th January 1969, the Council approved the changing of the name “Tropical Medicine Project' to “SEAMEC Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Project” with its organisational form consisting of a Central Coordinating Board and the seven National Tropical Medicine and Public Health Centres of Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Vietnam and Thailand.
ROLE STATEMENT of SEAMEO TROPMED
In line with the overall mission of SEAMEO, the role of the SEAMEO TROPMED is to promote health and to prevent or control disease, thus improving the living conditions of people in South and Southeast Asia through relevant programmes and services. As a Network of four Regional Centres hosted by established academic and/or research institutions in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, SEAMEO TROPMED serves to facilitate the strengthening of national and institutional capabilities in research and human resource development through various training and postgraduate degree programmes, linkages, personnel exchanges, scientific for a, technical consultant services, publication, and information dissemination. SEAMEO TROPMED subscribes to the belief that a healthy and enlightened citizenry is the basis of stable nationhood and, in turn, a wholesome global community.
The Institute also serves as:
1. To train specialists in tropical medicine and public health through short-term courses and/or graduate degree programmes, with due regard to diversities in culture, needs and expectation of people for whom these services are intended. 2. To support research on endemic diseases and newly emerging disease associated with changing environments. 3. To promote the utilization of research results in the formulation of effective disease control strategies. 4. To strengthen research, training and management capabilities of existing facilities through staff development, institutional partnerships, personnel interchange, technical assistance, and mutual consultation. 5. To organize seminars, conference, workshops, and technical meetings on current topics for a better understanding of diseases of clinical and public health importance. 6. To facilitate information retrieval, exchanges and dissemination among institutions and end-users. 7. To encourage collaboration and resources-sharing among medical and health-related institutions through the initiative and leadership of duly designated TROPMED Regional Centres. 8. To accelerate health improvement and the development of the underserved sectors of society without prejudice to others needing quality health care. 9. To maintain readiness and the capacity to extend its programmes and services wherever and whenever needed.
SEAMEO-TROPMED Regional Centre for Microbiology, Parasitology and Entomology The two main regular training programmes conducted by the Centre each year are the Diploma in Applied Parasitology and Entomology (DAP&E) and Diploma in Medical Microbiology (DMM) postgraduate courses. The Centre continued to participate actively in various activities organised by SEAMEO TROPMED as well as the SEAMEO Secretariat and these include various meetings, conferences and courses both within and outside the country.
Post-graduated courses Diploma in Applied Parasitology & Entomology (DAP&E) Course The 33 rd DAP&E Course was conducted from May to October 2002. The 15 candidates were from Thailand (1), Indonesia (3), Laos PDR (3), Vietnam (1), Cambodia (1), Malaysia (2), Fiji Islands (1), Philippines (1), Myanmar (1) and Mozambique (1). Of the 15 candidates, four candidates passed the examination with distinction. Miss Chatnapa Dwangdes was awarded the Centre prize for best student and Mr. Abdul Halim Abdullah was awarded the Dean's prize for the best project dissertation. The external examiners were Professor Dr. Chang Moh Seng from UNIMAS and Professor Dr. Norhayati Mokhtar from UKM. The diplomas were presented by Y. Bhg. Dato' Dr. Mohd Ismail Merican, Deputy Director General of Health (Research and Technical Support), Ministry of Health Malaysia to the successful candidates at the graduation ceremony held on 18 th October 2002 at the IMR.
Diploma in Medical Microbiology (DMM) CourseThe 24 th DMM Course was held from 5 th November 2001 to 26 th April 2002 . Of the 12 candidates, 6 were sponsored by the SEAMEO-TROPMED organisation. They included one each from Cambodia and the Philippines and two each from Lao PDR and Malaysia . The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) sponsored three candidates, one each from Myanmar , Sierra Leone and South Africa while another three, one from Lao PDR and 2 from Vietnam were supported by the European Commission. Nine candidates passed the final examination and 3 candidates were awarded distinctions. Three other candidates were awarded the Certificate of Attendance. Ms Wan Razlin Wan Zaabar from Malaysia was the best student for the 24 th DMM course.
Applicants must have a sufficiently good command of English to follow the courses held at the postgraduate level. They must possess at least a basic degree in the biological sciences or health field. The SEAMEO-CIDA assisted linkage project with the University of Ottawa in Canada helped strengthen research and training capabilities in biostatistics, epidemiology and behavioral science. In-country training courses, regional workshops/seminars, and international conferences dealing with specific topics are organized as per need for a wide range of clientele.
COMMITMENT TOWARDS QUALITY RESEARCH
The Director
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