In a Galaxy far far away called Malaysia, the force of the DENGUE remain strong. Despite all the pamphlets and ads on DENGUE fever we are still galaxies away from nailing the Dengue outbreak. Recently the honorable health minister, Dato' Dr. Subramaniam released a rather surprising press statement;

After a few days of good sleep (read Questions I Can't Find Answers To), it is good to know that the 'loktor' title by the homeopathy practitioner has gone off...after a knock on the door by some officers from the Traditional and Health Medicine, Ministry of Health. Now everyone can get on with their lives and save more lives. However, I DO NOT condone the individuals who personally bash the loktor with harsh language. Let's not stoop so low to that level. You will only become the people you hate.

"I'll be the doctor today!"

BANJIR 2014. The flood waters may have receded but the road to recovery has only begin. It would be difficult to determine how long life will return to normal for the folks affected by the floods. However, some fellow Malaysians are still facing hardships in the states of Sabah and Sarawak. The weather is still unpredictable. What's worse, access to some areas in the interior districts of Sabah and Sarawak was never good to begin with. I have yet to receive any news on how things are over in Sabah & Sarawak but I do wish them the best. We are separated by the South China Seas, but we are MALAYSIANS.

My Facebook wall has been filled by screen captures of a homeopathy doctor  'lokto'....yes, she actually used the doctor title without '(EM)' or '(H)'! So now, it's almost 12 midnight and I can't go to sleep without getting this off my mind. Here are the screen capture (and of course, typical MOfrust, I blacked out the names...pandai-pandai la korang carik).

A not so bright loktor's idea about MGTT and GDM

There seems to be a new Basic Life Support Guideline from The Gawk, Not Do Anything and Blame Others Society (bukan nama sebenar). From what I understand, if you find a person lying motionless;

1. Stop
2. Take out a smartphone with video function
3. Head to the person and continue capturing the video
4. Upload the video on Facebook with a catchy comment such as;
 
" The nurses and doctors in this hospitals are inhuman letting this person lie on the floor. The government should take action! "

5. Wait for other society members to 'like' and comment with a pinch of racism such as

" I also kena like that, the staff so bad one "
" I heard my neighbor's, uncle's friend to his neighbor also treated badly by the staff at Hospital X "
" They just leave him like that because he is RACE X "

A toned down version is also available in The Star's Letters to the editor section.

Lately there is a trend among marketers of health and beauty products to include over the top claims of how their products can CURE certain medical diseases. Most of these claims can't be substantiated by any scientific methods. These claims are merely from TESTIMONIALS of their clients after using their products. Any inquiries made regarding these claims will be answered with accusations of the enquirer being an agent of anti religious sentiments and Western beliefs (Zionism is a favorite target).

Furthermore some of these marketers claims to have titles such as Doctor and Professor from questionable universities. Some of them even have the title of Sir without ever meeting the Queen of England! Some of the Professor titles are even conferred by certain companies instead of universities. While they deny that they are deceiving the public by portraying themselves as a medical doctor, their pamphlet seem to depict the contrary. In the eyes of the public, does a person wearing a white coat with a stethoscope around their neck look like a medical doctor? This is what is happening today.

My letter in The Star 16th January 2015

BANJIR 2014

After highlighting the plight of a medical doctor in Kuala Krai Hospital last week (read here), this week I wish to share a doctor's experience in Temerloh. She is a friend of mine and wants to be known as DrPayaJauh. She was personally affected by the rising waters in Temerloh with her 19 month old girl in tow.

Musings of a Temerloh Medical Officer 

Dear all , 
As we commence into the new year ; let us also reflect on our blessings. When I first came to Temerloh, I was the typical city girl, not used to small town life; waking up to cows, goats, bulls and sheep on my driveway and impatiently waiting for them to cross the road so that I could pass by; seeing the occasional snakes gliding on the road.

Grumbling why my makcik-makcik and pakcik-pakcik Temerloh don't want to eat their meds and keep taking ubat kampung. I swore to myself, I would submit my transfer in 6 months. Almost 3 years later; here I still am in Temerloh. I have grown fond of this town and its zero traffic. I now even know where some of my patients live. They even bring me food during their appointments. My daughter loves chasing the goats nearby our house.

This year brings a new experience. I entered the year 2015 as a flood victim; ground zero: Temerloh, the area worst hit by the floods in Pahang. I have volunteered in medical relief missions before, but this is the first time that I too am a flood victim. I currently find myself homeless, vehicle-less, with barely any of my belongings with me. My main concern is my 19 month old not-so-little girl. However, as doctors, we cannot evacuate, it is our responsibility to serve our community . 

My husband and I have been physically separated most days of this week, as we have different tasks to do. Here I wish to share my personal experience of the devastating effect of the flood that occurred here. I am one of the medical officers posted in Pusat Pemindahan Banjir SMK Seberang Temerloh. There are almost five thousand victims registered here; at this one school alone. There are thousands registered at all the other various pusat pemindahan banjir in the district of Temerloh. There were days when I received news that formula milk ran out at some of the centers, to the extent that some mothers diluted condensed milk to feed to their children. When I was informed of that, as a mother myself, that broke my heart.There were victims who literally hadn't eaten for days!