Smarter. Nimbler. Stronger: Meet DIPHE.
One Team, One Mission: Powering Up Our Infection Defences
JurongHealth Campus has taken a significant step forward in patient safety and outbreak preparedness with the formation of the Department of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology (DIPHE). This new department unites two highly specialised teams under one structure, enabling a nimbler, smarter and more coordinated approach to preventing infections and protecting both patients and staff.
Our roots go back to 2010, when the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Committee first laid the foundations for infection prevention at JHC. Those years of groundwork became absolutely critical during COVID-19, when infection prevention and hospital epidemiology teams worked round-the-clock on outbreak management, contact tracing, and keeping our patients, staff and community safe. That experience proved one thing: infection control isn’t just important — it’s mission-critical.
Now, by uniting these specialised teams under DIPHE, we are building on that legacy to deliver more comprehensive, evidence-based strategies that not only tackle outbreaks but also embed infection prevention into everyday hospital operations.
Infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic
Meet the Team
DIPHE is made up of two dedicated groups. The Infection Prevention Team is led by Adj Assistant Professor Surinder Pada, Head of Division, Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, supported by the Infection Prevention nursing team:
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Lilibeth S Alenton, Nurse Clinician
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Chee Poh Ling, Nurse Clinician
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Sun Yongyuan, Senior Staff Nurse
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Beevifatimah Ahamad Sha, Senior Staff Nurse
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Faridah Abdul Majid, Senior Staff Nurse
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Ling Wan Nie, Senior Staff Nurse
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Sherry Lynne Baloyo, Senior Staff Nurse
The Hospital Epidemiology Team led by Dr Yang Kok Soon, Head of Epidemiology and Senior Consultant, will be supported by our epidemiologists:
1. Hsann Yin Maw, Senior Principal Epidemiologist
2. Rowena Yap, Senior Epidemiologist
3. Cheryl Lynn Chan, Senior Epidemiologist
4. Koh Jiayun, Epidemiologist
Focus Areas for the Year Ahead
In the coming months, DIPHE will focus on boosting outbreak readiness through initiatives such as hand hygiene campaigns, enhanced outbreak and environmental management (including water safety), updated cleaning protocols, and closer coordination with the Ministry of Health and other partners. These efforts will involve active collaboration with nursing, medical, allied health and non-clinical teams to ensure infection prevention is truly a shared responsibility.
The department’s work also aligns with global and national priorities. The World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan for Infection Prevention and Control (2024–2030) outlines strategies for reducing infection risks worldwide, with Singapore among the countries supporting this effort. Locally, a Ministry of Health survey in 2023 found that about 13 in every 100 hospital patients had a hospital-acquired infection. The national target is to reduce this to 6 in 100 patients by 2035, and DIPHE will be key in helping to reach this goal through prevention programmes, outbreak management, workforce development and research.
Smarter and Nimbler Technologies
DIPHE is exploring new technologies, including UV light disinfection in high-risk areas, infrastructure and ventilation upgrades, improvements to infection tracking through the EPIC system, and advanced cleaning equipment. These innovations will help the team detect risks earlier, act faster and further strengthen protection for patients and staff.
UV light disinfection
Ventilation Upgrade
With DIPHE, JurongHealth Campus is raising the bar for infection prevention. Together, we are faster, sharper, and better prepared — protecting lives today while building a healthier tomorrow.