Remembering Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali (1926-2026): A Legacy of Public Health Service and Health Equity in Malaysia

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali (1926-2026) was among the earliest Malay women physicians and a pioneer of rural maternal and child health in Malaysia. In Kedah, Malaysia, she held senior maternal and child health posts, served as district health officer, and led the Rural Health Training School in Jitra, where women were trained in clean midwifery. Her 1988 APACPH McLaren Award speech, published in this journal, framed primary health care as a commitment to social equity. Her later advocacy for safe motherhood and child health, and the HIV award bearing her name, extend that legacy.