The CEPH Hybrid Lunch Talk titled “The Role of Social Determinants in Promoting Health and Health Equity” was held in a hybrid session on March 9th, 2023, from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm at the SPM Conference Room, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. The event was organised under the leadership of the Head of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Professor Dr Victor Hoe Chee Wai Abdullah, and moderated by Associate Professor Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid, Head of the Centre for Population Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, who was also in attendance.
The webinar aimed to explore the critical role that social determinants play in promoting health and health equity. Social determinants are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that affects their health and well-being. The webinar discussed how social determinants can create health disparities and how addressing these determinants can help promote health equity.
The keynote speaker for the event was Professor Dr Sten H. Vermund, an expert in public health and epidemiology. He is a paediatrician and infectious disease epidemiologist focused on diseases in low and middle-income countries. Professor Vermund’s research focuses on healthcare access, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, and prevention of HIV transmission among general and key populations, including mother-to-child.
The webinar was well-attended by students, academics, and professionals in the field of public health. Professor Vermund’s presentation was informative and thought-engaging, as he highlighted the importance of addressing social determinants to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. The participants also had the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion, making the event a valuable learning experience. Overall, the 1-hour session was a success and provided insights into highlighting the importance of the topic and the department’s commitment to addressing public health challenges in Malaysia and the region as well as the critical role of social determinants in promoting health and health equity.
This write-up was written by Muhammad Haizril Arif Md Mokhtar, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
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