Key Events

SCP Courses

Posted: 21 Sep 2012

Third Asia-Pacific Dengue Workshop, 28 August to 6 September 2012

A group of participants preparing for laboratory work

Participants at a laboratory

The Third Asia-Pacific Dengue Workshop, held in Singapore from 28 August to 6 September 2012, is a capacity building programme that supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Dengue Strategic Plan for the Asia-Pacific Region. It is the only workshop in this region that offers public health practitioners a holistic view of dengue surveillance and control, with an emphasis on the establishment of linkages between laboratory diagnosis and surveillance, clinical management and field control.

This year’s workshop saw a gathering of 71 participants from 24 countries, including those from the WHO Western Pacific, South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean Regions. The workshop comprised parallel sessions on laboratory surveillance, field surveillance and control, and clinical management, encompassing lectures, laboratory practicals, site visits and hands-on field experience. Participants studied the ground implementation and operations of Singapore’s national dengue control programme, and participated in hands-on experience on mosquito identification, dengue diagnostics and laboratory-based surveillance, which are among the key strengths of this programme. Experts from WHO, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and USA also provided insights into the various concepts and strategies of dengue surveillance, control and management.

The workshop was jointly organised by WHO, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Singapore Cooperation Programme, and NEA, in collaboration with Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Nanyang Polytechnic, Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Centre and the Singapore Society of Microbiology and Biotechnology.

SCP Courses

Posted: 20 Sep 2012

Singapore – Pacific Ministerial Study Visit, 6 to 10 August 2012

Pacific Ministers and delegates at Gardens by the Bay

Group photo of the Pacific delegation at the Opening Ceremony hosted by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam (first row, third from left)

Pacific delegation receiving a briefing at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Gallery

Pacific delegation at the Marina Bay SkyPark

At the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, Ministers from eleven Pacific Islands States were in Singapore to participate in the Singapore – Pacific Ministerial Study Visit from 6 to 10 August 2012.

The Ministerial Study Visit was opened by Minister Shanmugam at a welcome ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministers later paid a joint call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, during which they discussed Singapore’s relations with the Pacific Islands States and developments in the South Pacific region. Minister Shanmugam hosted the Ministers to dinner.

The Ministers and delegates were briefed by various Ministries and government agencies on Singapore’s development experience in areas such as public administration, education, health, transport and water management. This is the first such study visit that Singapore has organised for Ministers from the Pacific Islands States.

Key Events

Posted: 07 Aug 2012

Singapore and Oman boost ties with New Institute - Memorandum of Understanding signed during Singapore Foreign Minister’s visit

Singapore’s Foreign Minister K Shanmugam (left), and Oman’s MFA Secretary-General Sayyid Badr bin Hamood Al Busaidi signing an MOU to establish the Regional Institute for Infrastructure Development (RIID).

Minister Shanmugam speaking to course participants at RIID.

Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Law K Shanmugam and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamood Al Busaidi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the Regional Institute for Infrastructure Development (RIID) during his introductory visit to the Sultanate of Oman in May 2012. The RIID is co-located at the Sultan Qaboos University and will be the platform for Singapore to offer capacity building courses in infrastructure development and vocational skills to the Omanis. These courses cover areas such as electrical network management, civil aviation and water management.

Minister Shanmugam also observed the first RIID course on “Distribution Network Asset Management” during this visit to the Sultanate. The course was conducted by trainers from Singapore Power and the Energy Market Authority. One of the course participants, Mr Naveen Kumar, Technical Manager of the Al Batinah Power Company, said that the course provided “more insights into how the energy industry functions…[and] there are many aspects that can be adopted to enhance the energy industry capability in Oman”.

While in Oman, Mr Shanmugam also met Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, the Chairman of the Majlis A’Shura (Consultative Assembly) Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ahmed Hassan Al Dheeb.

They discussed the state of Singapore-Oman relations and identified new areas where both countries could cooperate.

Mr Shanmugam also met the Singaporean community in Oman at a reception hosted by Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Oman, Mr Teng Theng Dar.