Where are the missing people afflicted with tuberculosis? This question reverberates in Cambodia, where the disease is rife. While the country has achieved great success in tuberculosis control in the past decade, many people with tuberculosis are missed by its health systems, and as a result, do not receive the care they need.

These people—for whom tuberculosis is not detected—are among the preoccupations of researchers from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, who work at NUS’ health office in Cambodia.

Set up in 2014, the unit, headed by Assistant Professor Yi Siyan, works with local and international partners to implement public health research, education and practice programmes in Cambodia and the region. One of their key projects centres on active case-finding strategies—an approach to finding tuberculosis cases proactively, instead of a passive approach where people with tuberculosis present themselves to a healthcare facility.

In randomised controlled trials throughout ten provinces in Cambodia, the team demonstrated the feasibility, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of community-based active case-finding. For instance, the seed-and-recruit model—that mobilises community networks to find tuberculosis cases—was associated with early initiation of treatment, a greater likelihood of finding cases, and reduced risk of transmission within the community.

“The active case finding trial has provided valuable insights, offering a range of strategies and approaches not only for case identification but also the refinement of effective models,” said Dr Sok Heng Pheng, Deputy Director of Cambodia’s National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, one of the partners in the effort.

Beyond research, the NUS health office also actively engages the community by bringing screening to residents, and strengthening the capacity of local researchers and health workers.

From 2019 to 2022, they have proactively screened over 150,000 individuals, diagnosing and caring for more than 3,000 people with tuberculosis, and facilitating preventive treatment for over 3,000 others. Through training, they have also empowered 500 community health workers to deliver tuberculosis services in 16 provinces throughout the country, and to become advocates within their community.

This expansive work is only made possible, Asst Prof Yi shares, with the help of local government, civil society organisations, and the larger community. “Working closely with local partners at every stage of our research helps to foster ownership. It enables us to better translate research findings into policies and actionable steps, that can benefit those on the ground who need it the most,” he said. 

“With this project, for instance, the key to our success was the active involvement of stakeholders at all levels, from the local to the national and international, throughout the entire research process,” he said.

Jolene Gina Abelarde’s childhood ambition was to become a lawyer. However, her family’s financial situation meant that she had to bury this dream. Jolene (pictured below) went into a different field, but a brush with injury—and the legal issues that followed—reminded her of her long-buried childhood ambition, and of the immense value of a legal education. 

Spurred on to give her dream another shot, she applied to NUS Law School and was surprised to receive, in addition to an offer an admission, scholarships and bursaries funding her tuition fees and schooling expenses.

The intellectual rigour of law school challenged and energised Jolene, but it was the connections she soon found with her peers and teachers that emboldened her to take on leadership roles that saw her advocating for improved student welfare. As Vice-President of the Law Club, she paved the way for greater inclusivity and support in various areas, from mental wellness to menstrual health and hygiene.

Spaces@BTC, a student group co-founded by Jolene, raised awareness on and provided mental wellness support to law students, and from it sprung a peer support group made up of law students trained by the Health Promotion Board and NUS’ Office of Student Affairs.

“These student initiatives were my way of giving back for all the support I’d received. I’m glad they have helped strengthen the sense of community and care for students,” she said. “Lawyers are officers of the court and I know I am in a unique position to support people, groups and organisations with their legal issues and to further the public good.”

Upon graduating from NUS, Jolene received the prestigious National University of Singapore Society Medal for Outstanding Achievement. She is set to begin a career in international arbitration.

Ask what gets the students of NUS Dance Synergy moving, and the answer is simple: A pure love for the art form, and a desire to uplift communities around them. The members of this contemporary dance group—which was founded in 1978—are animated not merely by practice and performance, but the desire to spread the joy of dance. 

Synergy’s outreach and engagement efforts include dance workshops and interactive sessions with elderly and youth groups. A significant initiative is the award-winning Helping Hands, Moving Bodies.  

In 2020, Vera Chiew and Shaelyn Lam—who headed engagement and outreach then—decided to leverage existing community efforts to construct a more cohesive programme. At that point, members of Synergy were already heading to the Fei Yue Seniors Activity Centre every week to guide the seniors in simple exercises and choreography.

Under the guidance of their Artistic Director Yarra Illeto, Synergy piloted Helping Hands, Moving Bodies, wherein students learnt theories of body movement and teaching pedagogies, and applied these towards conducting dance workshops for senior citizens. Describing community service as an integral part of Synergy’s culture, Shaelyn said, “As dance shapes the way we think and move, community outreach and engagement shapes Synergy’s place in our community.”

The programme has since evolved through a few different iterations. In 2022, Synergy partnered with NUS’ Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies and social agency Lions Befrienders to better understand the physical and cognitive needs of the elderly. The resulting dance programme was rolled out at Lions Befrienders’ various senior activity centres. Expanding, Synergy teamed up with other beneficiaries such as Anglican Senior Centre and NTUC Health Senior Activity Centre the following year. Their efforts netted them Outstanding Community Arts Project of the Year for the third time in a row at the Tan Ean Kiam Arts Awards, this time with a Distinction.

Leong Qian Ning (pictured below, far left), who headed community engagement in 2023, notes their growth to date. “Helping Hands, Moving Bodies has definitely become more refined over the years in terms of its structure and goals,” she said, sharing that the next cycle will see them incorporate the programme into their official curriculum, as well as address the needs of specific subgroups, such as elderly with dementia.

These future plans are fueled by the payback to date—the chance to witness the enjoyment that dance can bring.