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COMMENTARY | Sabah is the state with the highest number of cumulative Covid-19 cases in Malaysia since March 2020.
Through the multiple waves of the pandemic, frontline workers and healthcare workers in Sabah, especially the east coast region consisting of Tawau, Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu, have been resisting the devastating hits 24 / 7 with all our heart, our soul, our mind and our strengths.
Serving amid this seemingly dark and harrowing era, the avant-gardes shine like beacons through unforgiving nights, instilling hope, calm, and probably a sense of direction among the local community, appropriately and in accordance with the Revised Declaration of Genoa: “I solemnly commit myself to dedicate my life to the service of humanity; the health and well-being of my patients will be my first consideration. “
The health and well-being of our patients have always been prioritized within our best capabilities. We may not be the most resourceful, but we may be among the most resourceful. Resource management has been exceptionally challenging, but meticulously optimized since the first day of the coronavirus outbreak.
Tawau Hospital, being the only public hospital with specialists in all of Tawau, extends our coverage to other moderately distant districts (Semporna and Kunak). As the daily number of new cases and accumulated active cases increases, while the number of beds and human resources remain finite, our health care and work load also multiplies.
Unlike several regions on the peninsula, the similar move of turning Tawau Hospital into an exclusive Covid-19 treatment center while transferring non-Covid patients to other hospitals remains a logistically unviable luxury. The hospital administration, working hand in hand with those on the front lines, has acted swiftly.
Wards have been reorganized, additional health care teams and labor have been obtained from other regions / states and additional treatment centers (including a newly constructed field hospital, photo above) has been established. No patient has ever been turned away.
The delay in evaluation or admission has been minimal or null. Whenever we run out of beds or rooms, we create additional beds and rooms. Many healthcare workers may need, even on a voluntary basis, to work additional hours from time to time to care for the growing number of patients, while maintaining the standard and quality of care.
Some report to work on a daily basis, despite battling physical and mental exhaustion, including physical pain and injury. Furthermore, the medical officers at Semporna Hospital once worked continuously without a day off for weeks. These practices are not to be rashly glorified, but are being carried out, out of fleeting necessity and volunteerism, while prioritizing the health and well-being of patients.
Fortunately, the worst stretch may have passed as our workforce is constantly boosted by the support and reinforcement of our counterparts on the peninsula.
“I will maintain the utmost respect for human life; I will not allow considerations of age, illness or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social position or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patients ”, is the position of our workforce . SARS-CoV-2 is the largest equalizer that does not differentiate or discriminate.
Therefore, each patient, each life is treated equally with the utmost respect to the best of our abilities, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and even the financial status of the patient.
Prisoners, criminals, criminals, illegal immigrants, the needy, the underprivileged, innocent civilians, and colleagues / healthcare workers are being cared for promptly, comprehensively and respectfully across the board.
Entering prisons, detention centers, quarantine and low-risk treatment centers, one will witness the sacrifice of those on the front lines, who serve day and night while soaking in their PPE, all for the health of each patient. , every life.
Meanwhile, front-line people stationed at hospitals are intensively caring for sick patients 24 hours a day, serving on an empty stomach and full bladder (even soggy diapers in some), consistently exhibiting excellent shape under stress while standing between our patients and the graves.
The underprivileged community in the interior is not forgotten, nor is it abandoned. Leaders who navigate the floods to reach patients demonstrate their dedication through tangible actions.
Frontline people traversing old and damaged wooden bridges between stilt houses, putting the health of patients before their own safety by offering timely help, often convey reassurance to the local community that we serve not out of mere convenience but out of conviction and commitment: “I will take care of my own health, well-being and abilities to provide the highest level of care.”
Every week, there will be news that healthcare workers are diagnosed with Covid-19, while some others are quarantined. Emotional stress among healthcare workers should not be discounted. As a colleague at Semporna Hospital quoted, “It is like a survival game, every few days one of us can become infected and therefore eliminated from our daily tasks.”
In fact, it is not known whether tomorrow’s diagnosis or Covid-19 will come first. However, we are increasingly responsible for our own health, both individually and collectively as a group.
We adapt to the new regulations and strictly adhere to the SOP to minimize transmission among health workers: (i) teaching for junior doctors is carried out virtually, (ii) non-essential meetings and encounters are canceled, ( iii) all staff must wear masks and face shields (or eye covers) on the hospital premises, and (iv) all staff are monitored daily at work with daily temperature and the presence / absence of clearly documented symptoms in the log books.
Each of us is responsible for our own health and for the health of our colleagues in the workplace. Strictly speaking, there are no exaggerated heroics at work. All staff who develop fever or other symptoms will proactively seek treatment, promptly inform respective superiors / supervisors accordingly while being evaluated, examined and even quarantined in the most timely manner.
In addition to physical health, the mental health of health workers is also exclusively cared for. Our caring and approachable partners in the Department of Psychology and Mental Health have been diligently offering their expertise, without the slightest bias or judgment.
This practical and tangible help represents the best option for the majority of healthcare workers who are separated from their respective families by the South China Sea.
Patients without Covid-19
An infinite number of non-Covid patients are still seeking treatments for various critical conditions such as stroke, heart attack, severe dengue, malaria, tuberculosis, sepsis with life-threatening infections, obstetric complications and emergencies, orthopedic and surgical emergencies, etc. in.
Healthcare and human resources may have been depleted at times, certain aspects of healthcare (for example, routine outpatient care for stable conditions) may not have been ‘commercial’ as usual, however, the Indicated hospital care has never been significantly compromised or compromised during this pandemic. Urgent treatment and interventions continue to be prioritized without further delay.
Despite a multitude of multifaceted challenges in logistics, healthcare facilities, and human resources, it is still possible, with concerted efforts to work within the limits of these limitations, to provide the most efficient treatments and services to the entire spectrum of patients within our best capabilities and creativity.
The relentless support of the Sabah Health Department, the Ministry of Health, non-governmental organizations, Good Samaritans and the efforts of the local community to channel the health and human resources of the peninsula by the authorities should be applauded, well crafted on social and mass media.
We would also like to express our appreciation to the NGOs (Tzu-Chi Foundation, Lions Club, Tawau Tiong Hwa Chamber of Commerce, Hup Seng, etc.) for their selfless contributions in the form of PPE, ventilators, industrial disinfectants, and even diagnostic tests. . modalities.
Additionally, many individuals and members of local communities have come forward and also offered similar contributions. In particular, even a healthcare worker, a junior doctor currently undergoing housework at Tawau Hospital, has contributed astonishingly hundreds of thousands of ringgit in PPE since the first wave of this pandemic.
Yet these morale-boosting endorsements from all directions have been encouraging all leaders, reminding us that we are never alone in this fight.
Last but not least, when traveling in a sea of perennial health and human resource controversies, a fresh angle, a different perspective can form a positive wave, offering encouragement and positive vibes throughout the healthcare community and , God willing, the general public as well.
We are all at war against the virus, but it is not all doom and gloom. Without a doubt, there are issues that should not be overlooked. At the same time, there are also many more positives that are worth highlighting.
The avant-garde continues to fight, as strong and solid as ever. Join us in this battle and in prayer, the victory parade for the foreseeable future.
Dr. SCHEE JIE PING has written this on behalf of the entire staff of the Department of Medicine at Tawau Hospital. This group of healthcare workers cares for both Covid-19 patients and medical (non-Covid) patients in Tawau.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author / contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
