PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s renowned infectious disease expert Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman is now the country’s first commissioner of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

Prof Adeeba, who is also the director of the Centre of Excellence for Research on AIDS (Ceria), Universiti Malaya and chairman of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF), served as the first Asian president at the International AIDS society and was the co-chair of the World Health Organisation (WHO) strategic and technical advisory committee on HIV.

In a statement issued yesterday, the MAF said she was instrumental in influencing the Malaysian government’s shift in drug policies.

“Her efforts has led to the introduction of harm reduction programmes in 2006 to prevent HIV infections among people who use drugs, such as the needle and syringe exchange programme and methadone maintenance therapy,” said MAF.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy was created in January 2011 by a group of personalities from the Americas and Europe.

They include former heads of state and government to advocate for drug policies based on scientific evidence, human rights, public health, and security.

The commission is currently chaired by former prime minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark.

Prof Adeeba is also currently serving as a Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases under Universiti Malaya’s Medicine Faculty.

It was there that she founded the Infectious Diseases Unit.

It is one of the country’s leading infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS tertiary referral centres in 1996.

In 2008, she founded Ceria which runs research activities focusing on marginalised communities such as drug addicts, prisoners and homosexuals in Malaysia.

At the centre, Prof Adeeba oversees multi-sectoral research and programmatic initiative.

These programmes focus on evidence-based human rights-oriented drug policy reforms, including strategies for strengthening primary prevention, harm reduction and health in the criminal justice settings.

She is also a two-time Merdeka Awards recipient – an accolade to recognise and reward individuals and organisations whose work and achievements have contributed to the nation’s growth and inspired greatness in the people of Malaysia.

Health professional and humanitarian activist Prof Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood congratulated Prof Adeeba for her persistent advocation on drug policies

“Prof Adeeba has been persistently advocating on this and rightfully appointed to this esteemed and important commission.

“Congratulations dear Adeeba – we are incredibly proud of your achievements and honoured to be your friend and partner on @SenseWScience (an online health forum platform),” she tweeted yesterday.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/09/20/first-malaysian-in-global-commission-on-drug-policy-is-dr-adeeba