Coronavirus response
A police officer checks the body temperature of a visitor
“As this is not
the first time we
are dealing with
such situations,
we already have
the screening
system and
procedures
such as contact
tracing,
quarantine,
monitoring
in place, and
when there is a
patient-under-
investigation,
they will be
referred to the
Sungai Buloh
Hospital.”
36
MAY 2020
million ringgit in donations from ordinary Malaysians
who want to support healthcare workers while
isolating themselves at home. Even Malaysian
celebrity entrepreneur and fashion starlet Vivy Yusof
joined the cause, raising 300,000 ringgit for the charity
and donating 100,000 ringgit personally.
“How can we sit tight at home while hospital staff
work multiple shifts and care for infected patients that
are increasing? I think it’s time for us to do something
that’s bigger than us,” Vivy said on Instagram.
In Dr Ahmad Munawwar’s view, the nation-wide
lockdown has created national champions for all
Malaysians to support. They now recognise that the
problems healthcare workers face are more difficult
than their own in isolation.
“When we started our COVID-19 initiatives, there
were only a few people out fundraising. Now it seems
like everybody wants to help the healthcare workers,”
he said.
Civic groups have also responded in a number of
ways, despite a social lockdown where only essential
workers can continue to work and tight restrictions on
leaving home.
To help meet demand for face shields, for example,
Malaysians have been using 3D printers. Volunteers at
one charity have been producing thousands of hand-
made face masks to Sungai Buloh’s specifications.
Like many countries, Malaysia is facing a shortage
of personal protective equipment (PPE), both in public
and private hospitals. Videos have been posted
showing Ministry of Health staff making their own
PPE using plastic bags, dustbin liners, and other
paraphernalia. By some estimates, nine out of 10 GPs
have been facing difficulty in getting PPE, while prices
for face masks and gloves have soared.
“It is utterly shameful that our healthcare providers
have to appeal to the public to provide them with
PPE which should be the primary responsibility of
the Ministry of Health,” Malaysian doctors wrote in an
open letter.
In response, the Health Ministry attributed the
shortages to “distribution issues” and said it had
“ample stock” of PPE.
Despite the government’s assurances,
organisations and even foreign governments have
stepped in to ensure supplies. China has begun
sending ventilators, face masks, testing kits, and
sanitisers, while the Malaysian Rubber Glove
Manufacturers Association has pledged to donate 19
million pairs of medical gloves to the government. And
government-linked companies have raised more than
40 million ringgit in donations for medical supplies,
PPE, and ventilators.
According to the Global Health Security Index 2019,
Malaysia is ranked eighteenth out of 195 countries,
indicating that the country is prepared when it
comes to preventing, detecting, and responding to
infectious disease outbreaks. Its ranking is higher than
neighbouring Singapore and Indonesia, which were
placed twenty-fourth and thirtieth, respectively.
Malaysian Public Health Medicine Specialist
Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar
believes the current measures taken by the Health
Ministry to address the coronavirus threat reflect the
government’s maturity in addressing such issues.
“As this is not the first time we are dealing with
such situations, we already have the screening system
and procedures such as contact tracing, quarantine,
monitoring in place, and when there is a patient-under-
investigation, they will be referred to the Sungai Buloh
Hospital,” he told Bernama, the state news agency.
As Malaysians look at scenes from Europe, where
police are enforcing national lockdowns and COVID-19
cases have been soaring, they’re seeing a frightening
picture of what might await them if things go wrong.
So far, the public have been largely supportive of
current government measures and appear confident
the approach will succeed. This view is also shared
by Dr Ahmad Munawwar from the front lines of the
pandemic.
“We will see hopefully that these restrictions will
flatten the curve. The reason for the restrictions is so
that the healthcare system can cope,” he said.
“On top of that, all our healthcare teams have been
preparing; the MOH are providing more tests and
equipment, and patient numbers are manageable at
the current capacity. I think there is light at the end of
the tunnel.”
Most Malaysians wear mask while going out
GlobalHealthAndTravel.com