Book offers insight into life as public health officer
MIRI: Having a career as a public health officer had taught Dr. Fairuz Mansoor many things about life and the challenges that come with it and such experience had also enabled him to witness Miri growing from a village to what it is today.
In sharing some of his experiences during his 31 years as a public health officer and the various events, particularly those connected to the medical field, which happened in Miri, Dr. Fairuz said these must be recorded and passed down to the younger generation as a lesson and reminder.
He said this when launching his book entitled ‘A Community Doctor in Miri: Memoir of a public health officer’ at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri (Pustaka Miri) yesterday.
“This 318-page book with 20 chapters offers insights on my working life as a doctor in urban hospitals such as Miri Hospital and rural areas such as Marudi and Baram,” he said.
The memoir details Dr. Fairuz’s experiences as public health officer and medical-related events happening in areas like Miri town, Marudi, Long Lama, Bekenu, Niah and even in the interior of Baram. These include dengue and cholera outbreaks as well as malaria cases.
He further added that in between 80s and 90s, Miri was the centre of development with the influx of local migrants from all over Sarawak where industries such as the food sector were booming; the living conditions and sanitation back then were compromised.
“It was only a matter of time before diseases would emerge at alarming levels. And in the midst of these, suddenly cholera and dengue become the main threats to Miri and its outskirts,” he said.
Of course, Dr. Fairuz reiterated that he had his fair share of ups and downs related to his profession, the experiences of which he was proud to share with his readers.
“The most satisfying accomplishment during my career was that they were able to control disease outbreaks that plagued the community and causing fear among the people. Whilst the most depressing moments would be witnessing tragic events such as plane crash and deaths that he thought shouldn’t have happened,” the doctor said.
Also present at the book launching event were Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Mayor Adam Yii, Fire and Rescue Department Zone 6 chief Supt Law Poh Kiong, Miri City Council (MCC) secretary Morshidi Frederick and Miri Hospital director Dr. Jack Wong Siew Yu.
Meanwhile, Ting and Dennis who shared their thoughts after reading the memoir, were deeply touched and appreciate what Dr. Fairuz had shared in the book as these events were mostly not made known to the public.
“This is a wonderful present to Miri people and those who wanted to know more about Miri, the little details are actually the important parts that shaped what Miri has become today,” said Ting.
Dennis, on the other hand, felt humbled when reading about the events, many of which he had never knew about.
“The records of Miri, Baram and Ulu Baram medical health facilities from the old days had made me felt very humble because of the struggles faced by the people, the medical officers as well as the efforts of the previous government. Despite the present negative developments and cases (linked to the previous government), it cannot be denied that that they had done their best to reach out to those in the remote areas,” he said.
The assemblyman also said he could relate with the experience of difficulties in life described by Dr. Fairuz in his memoir as it was similar to what the former had gone through.