Community observatory to fight chronic disease
Australian scientists will join an international research team in establishing a community health laboratory in Malaysia to gain new insight into preventing chronic disease across South East Asia.
The South East Asian Community Observatory (SEACO), led by scientists from Monash University and the University of Copenhagen, will set up field offices in Malaysian communities. These offices will investigate how behaviour and lifestyle contribute to the incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke and cancer.
The program was officially launched by the State of Johor’s Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman at a gala dinner in Malaysia last week.
SEACO Director Professor Daniel Reidpath of Monash University's Sunway campus, Malaysia, said the observatory gave population health experts a rare opportunity to gather information reflective of the "complexities of life" in a middle-income country.
“The growing burden of non-communicable diseases cannot be ignored, particularly in countries with ongoing challenges of poverty and development, effects of globalisation and rapid industrialisation," Professor Reidpath said.
"There is still limited understanding of the cultural and contextual drivers of disease, or appropriate solutions for diagnosis, health promotion, prevention and management."
The first field site will be established in Segamat in the state of Johor. Pilot studies were conducted earlier this year in the areas of Desa Mentari and Kampung Lindungan in Petaling Jaya.
Monash University Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Infrastructure) Professor Ian Smith said SEACO would establish the University's Malaysian campus as a prominent regional leader in global health research.
“SEACO is a fantastic initiative that will generate rich, innovative and unique data that will ultimately deliver improved health outcomes for the Malaysian and international communities,” Professor Smith said.
“The data generated through this initiative will provide important insights into the relationships between the people, their health and wellbeing and the broader environment.”
SEACO partners include the Harvard School of Public Health, University of Amsterdam, Monash University Accident Research Centre, Queens University, Belfast, and Malaysia’s University of Malaya through the Centre of Epidemiology and Population Health.