Ernest Steven Monteiro (21 December 1904 – 2 March 1989) was a Singaporean physician, specialised in preventive medicine.
[ He also served as the Singapore Ambassador to Brazil, Cambodia and the United States.][
]
Education
Monteiro was educated in St Anthony's School, Raffles Institution and King Edward VII College of Medicine.[
]
Career
Monteiro started his medical career in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) in 1929.[
During the Japanese Occupation, Monteiro was Director of Middleton Hospital for Infectious Diseases, which was TTSH's infectious diseases wing and a predecessor of ]National Centre for Infectious Diseases
The National Centre for Infectious Diseases (Abbreviation: NCID; ms, Pusat Nasional bagi Penyakit Berjangkit; ta, தேசிய தொற்றுநோய் மையம்; Chinese: ), previously known as the Communicable Disease Centre ...
in Singapore.[ He discovered that the available quantity of ]diphtheria antitoxin
Diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) is a medication made up of antibodies used in the treatment of diphtheria. It is no longer recommended for prevention of diphtheria. It is given by injection into a vein or muscle.
Side effects are common. They inclu ...
was depleting. He exposed live goats to diphtheria to create more antitoxin.[
After completing his post-graduate studies on a Queen's Scholarship in 1949, he was elected head of Faculty of Medicine of the then University of Malaya, Singapore in 1956–1960.][
In 1958, he started to use Sabin vaccine on a mass scale to protect young children and adults from ]polio
Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe s ...
to wipe-out beri-beri with Vitamin B-1 and eliminated diphtheria
Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Corynebacterium diphtheriae''. Most infections are asymptomatic or have a mild clinical course, but in some outbreaks more than 10% of those diagnosed with the disease may die. Signs and s ...
in children.[ By 1977, diphtheria and polio had become things of the past for Singaporeans.][
Upon his retirement in 1965, he was appointed the Emeritus Professor and Pro-Chancellor of ]National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in the c ...
.[
Monteiro taught many medical students from Singapore and Malaysia. Among his students were Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed (former Prime Minister of Malaysia) and Tun Dr ]Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali
Malay styles and titles#Tun, Tun Physician, Dr. Siti Hasmah binti Haji Mohamad Ali (Jawi alphabet, Jawi: سيتي حسمه بنت محمد علي; born 12 July 1926) is the spouse and wife of Mahathir Mohamad, the 4th and 7th Prime Minister of M ...
.[ He played a major role in establishing high standard of medical practice in Singapore.][
Monteiro was appointed the first Ambassador of Singapore to Cambodia in 1966-1968 and to United States and Brazil in 1969–1976.][
Monteiro came back home in 1977 and continued his private practice as a physician.][
]
Family and death
Monteiro died of liver failure on 2 March 1989.[ He divorced Una Marie Lewis, his first wife, in April 1971,][ and secretly married Ling Mie Hean in August 1971 in Washington.][
He has two sons (Dr Edmund Hugh Monteiro and Dr Gerald Monteiro) and 2 daughters (Jean and Irene) from the first marriage and a son, John Monteiro, from the second marriage.][
]
Honours
Monteiro was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(CBE) in 1957 Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours 1957 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries.
The appointments were made to celebrate ...
.[
He was also named a ]Fellow of the Royal Society
Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...
in 1972 for the Promotion of Health for his achievements in preventive medicine.[
In 1973, he was awarded an International Award for Distinguished Service of the US National Kidney Foundation.][
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monteiro, Ernest Steven
1904 births
1989 deaths
Ambassadors of Singapore to the United States