Dr. Chandramalar Kanthavelu
About me
I am Dr. Chandramalar Kanthavelu, MD, MPH, DrPH, PPKA, a Public Health Medicine Specialist with the Ministry of Health Malaysia. I currently serve at the Tampin District Health Office, Negeri Sembilan, where I lead the Family Health Unit, overseeing a womb-to-tomb approach — from pre-pregnancy care through to elderly health. I recently completed my Doctor of Public Health at Universiti Putra Malaysia, focusing on digital health education and menstrual health among university students. I have a special interest in women’s and child health, preventive care, and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration to improve population health outcomes.
Dr. Chandramalar Kanthavelu, MD, MPH, DrPH, PPKA
Public Health Medicine Specialist | Family Health | Researcher | Advocate for Women & Child Health
I am a Public Health Medicine Specialist with the Ministry of Health Malaysia, currently serving at the Tampin District Health Office, Negeri Sembilan. In my role, I lead the Family Health Unit, where I oversee a comprehensive womb-to-tomb approach — spanning pre-pregnancy care, maternal and child health, adolescent health, adult preventive services, and elderly wellbeing.
I earned my Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) from Universiti Putra Malaysia, where my doctoral research focused on the effectiveness of digital health education interventions to improve menstrual health and hygiene among female university hostel students. This work reflects my broader passion for women’s and child health, preventive medicine, ageing, and digital health innovation.
Over the course of my career, I have successfully designed and implemented multiple public health initiatives, including:
Coordinating the Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunisation Activity (MRSIA) 2025 for Tampin district.
Expanding maternal and child health programmes, including pre-pregnancy care and adolescent reproductive health.
Developing elderly health and dementia care strategies, aligned with Malaysia’s ageing population policies.
Conducting school health screenings for children with special needs, in collaboration with education and welfare agencies.
Leading community-based health promotion and vaccination campaigns, including influenza immunisation for older adults and temple-based health outreach.
Alongside programme leadership, I contribute actively to research and policy development. My publications include:
Application of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Food Security During Flood Disaster in Malaysia: A Narrative Review (Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2023)
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Malaysia during COVID-19: A Systematic Review (PLoS ONE, 2023)
Systematic Review on Factors Associated with Depression among Mothers of Children with Cancer (PLoS ONE, 2023)
Elderly Health Volume I: Methodology and General Findings (Ministry of Health, Malaysia)
The Dementia Action Plan 2023–2030 (Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia)
My work has also received recognition at both national and international levels. Key achievements include:
Bronze Medal, Best Oral Presentation, Women’s Health Conference 2024, National University of Singapore — for my presentation “Haiducation in Action: Elevating Menstrual Health Practices through Targeted Health Education among Female Public University Hostel Students.”
Best Oral Presenter, 4th Public Health International Conference (PHICO), 2021, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia — for my MPH research on “Discontinuation of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Working Mothers.”
Finalist, INTAN “Talk Your Way to the Top” Public Speaking Competition, 2019 — representing the Ministry of Health at the national level.
Through my leadership, research, and public engagement, I aim to bridge the gap between evidence and practice. I continue to advocate for equitable access to health services, evidence-based policy, and collaborative public health solutions that improve outcomes for communities across the life course.