Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Foundation Chancellor of Sunway University and Professor Sibrandes Poppema, University President have announced the establishment of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, and the appointment of senior Malaysian health and humanitarian expert, Tan Sri Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, to serve as Executive Director.
The primary purpose for the centre will be to pioneer the application of the planetary health approach to address the causes and consequences of human health and environmental change in Malaysia. The planetary health approach is an integrated way of improving our relationship with planet earth. It focuses on achieving the highest attainable standards of health, wellbeing, and equity worldwide, all within safe environmental limits.
It will also play a role where different intellects can come together to share knowledge about planetary health, translating academic discourse into easily accessible information, facilitating learning, and creating solutions together with a broad range of stakeholders to effect lasting systemic change.
“We are making this important investment as we aspire to become the world’s first planetary health-oriented university,” said Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, explaining the rationale for the establishment of the Centre at the Sunway University.
Professor Poppema iterated that with looming crises driven by a complex interplay of human-generated political, social, economic, and environmental factors, that have dire consequences, including deterioration of human health and the health of the natural world and which diminish the chance of healthy and happy lives and survival for future generations.
“And so, there is a need for a new approach that emphasises humanity coming together, assuming greater responsibility for our collective actions, enabling equal and responsible access to and use of limited resources, all underwritten by the need to act urgently, here and now.”
Dr. Jemilah who served as a special advisor to ex Prime Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin said that the Centre will leverage the diverse capacities of Sunway University’s existing faculties and networks and will forge new connections with partners from the region and around the world.
“In its inaugural phase, the Centre will focus on economy.”
