I am a Public Health Medicine Specialist with experience in health emergency preparedness, surveillance, and disaster response, currently serving within the Malaysian public health system. My professional interests lie in strengthening disaster health management, emergency medical team (EMT) readiness, and resilient health systems that are able to respond effectively to complex emergencies and public health threats.
Over the past five months, I have had the valuable opportunity to undertake advanced training in Japan, focusing on disaster management and emergency preparedness. Japan’s long-standing experience in managing natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and public health emergencies provided a rich learning environment to observe and study a highly structured, well-coordinated, and continuously evolving disaster management system. This exposure allowed me to gain deeper insights into disaster risk reduction, preparedness planning, incident command systems, inter-agency coordination, community-based disaster management, and the integration of health services into national disaster frameworks.
Throughout this period, I learned the importance of preparedness as a continuous process rather than a one-time plan. Key lessons included the value of clear command and control structures, regular training and simulation exercises, evidence-based planning, data-driven decision-making, and strong linkages between policy, operations, and frontline responders. Equally important was the emphasis placed on community resilience, local capacity building, and the role of health systems in ensuring continuity of care during disasters.
These learning experiences culminated in the development of my capstone project, which focuses on applying the disaster management principles and best practices observed in Japan to the Malaysian context. The capstone project aims to strengthen disaster health preparedness through systematic planning, structured coordination mechanisms, and practical implementation strategies that are realistic, scalable, and aligned with existing national health systems. This project reflects not only the technical knowledge gained during the programme, but also a commitment to translating lessons learned into actionable improvements for disaster preparedness and response in Malaysia.
For further information or professional correspondence, I can be contacted at abraham.chin@moh.gov.my