Message from the President (2021)

The year 2020 was a quiet year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order (MCO). The council members had planned to have at least 4 Continuous Professional Development (CPD) events and 3 public events for 2020. We managed to hold only our first CPD event physically on 22nd February 2020 just before the lockdown on 18th March at the Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The turn up was overwhelming although it was just the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic. Other planned CPD events in Johore Bahru, Penang and Sabah were repeatedly postponed. Finally, all these 3 events were converted to virtual events the following year.

The 23rd AGM which was to be held on 19th April 2020 was postponed because of the MCO. We finally managed to hold the AGM during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) on 30th August 2020 at Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, we were grateful for the support of more than 50 MMS members who attended the event. The usual Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) were strictly adhered to.

The Fellowship Party and the World Menopause Day event scheduled on 12th July 2020 and on October 2020 respectively, both at Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel were cancelled in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. We want our members to stay safe and healthy. The public events will resume as soon as it is safer to do so.

The first virtual event was held in collaboration with the Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia. This Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program held on 10th October 2020 for health care professionals was well-attended. The speakers were from Australia and Malaysia.

The Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the management of menopause in Malaysia were successfully completed by the end of 2020 by its chairperson Dr Premitha Damodaran from OGSM; and in collaboration with the Malaysian Menopause Society which was represented by Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Nik Nasri, Associate Professor Dr Ng Beng Kwang and Dr Ho Choon Moy.

After hibernating for 9 months, the following year has been a very active year for MMS where international and local virtual events are being organized. We are back on track again!

The three postponed physical MMS Women’s Health Roadshow for healthcare professionals will be held virtually on 10th April 2021, 9th October 2021 and 8th January 2022. The first roadshow is already fully booked by one thousand participants. It’s a full day event with 8 CPD points. Our meeting capacity using Zoom is a thousand participants for each conference.

The Malaysian International Virtual Conference on Menopause and Women’s Health (MIVCOM&WH) will be held from 9th to 11th July 2021. This event is using the CloudExpo unique high tech virtual event platform. We have gathered adequate sponsors and expected two to three thousand participants. The meeting capacity for this event is unlimited. It’s a 3 full-day event with 20 CPD points which will fulfil the whole year CPD requirement for doctors.

The public events planned for 2021 includes the World Menopause Day on 23rd October and Fellowship night in either August or December depending on the Covid-19 pandemic situation. If situation allows, other physical activities will be added. If physical events are not possible, then some of the events will be converted to virtual events.

The 24th AGM will be held on 12th June 2021 at Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel at Bandar Sunway. It will be a half day event from 9am to 2pm. This is an election year so it has to be a physical event. All MMS members are invited to attend so you can elect the EXCO team for the next two years. After one year of not seeing each other in person, I am sure you all are excited about meeting your friends again. Certainly, the AGM comes with an exciting program lined up for you with interesting door gifts, many lucky draws, educational talks and a scrumptious lunch. Looking forward to seeing all of you at the AGM. Thank you for your continuous support.

With appreciation,

Dr Ho Choon Moy FRCOG
President of MMS & WMD Organizing Chairperson