Virtual Doctors Day pays tribute to healthcare workers.
Virtual Doctors Day held to salute healthcare workers’ dedication
PETALING JAYA: It was a fitting tribute to Malaysia’s “Unsung Heroes in Healthcare”.
A virtual Doctors Day celebration was held yesterday, saluting healthcare workers who persevered in what has been a most demanding year thus far.
“The year 2020 has been very different from other years, as it may go down in history as one of the toughest and most challenging year for all doctors in the world, and also our country,” said Section Concerning House Officers and Medical Officers (Schomos) chairman Dr Vijay Ganasan.
“Doctors and frontliners must be appreciated for tirelessly working day and night to defend the nation,” he said.
Schomos comes under the
Malaysian Medical Association
(MMA).
The virtual event was hosted by the MMA along with Schomos and its Private Practitioners
Section (PPS).
The first Doctors Day was observed in 1933 in the United
States.
Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, who launched the virtual event, said the ministry was grateful to all frontliners for their dedication in fighting the coronavirus.
“Thank you, doctors. You’ve made Malaysia a better place. Together we can make a difference and make Malaysia safe,” the Health Minister said.
Health Department director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail commended frontliners who made the Malaysian healthcare services one of the best in the world.
“Medicine and healthcare is a noble profession through saving lives and also easing pain. It is not an occupation without hazards.
“From the physical hazards to mental hazards, frontliners are also exposed to chemical, biological, environmental and economic hazard while discharging their duties.”
Dr Norhizan noted that no matter the condition, healthcare workers had been tirelessly dedicating their service to the people.
“In the Armed Forces, we call normal days peace time but even during peace time, our healthcare workers are diligently carrying out their duties treating patients, doing activities for disease prevention and health promotion, as well as conducting research to further enhance our understanding in various fields and diseases,” he said.
During the time of a pandemic, Dr Norhizan noted that there was an uphill task faced by healthcare workers in containing and preventing diseases through screening and surveillance activities.
“They spend extra time at work at the expense of family time for the sake of the nation.
“They have been serving the country selflessly and some even have been ‘shot down’ by the invisible enemy.
“On this special day, let us show our gratitude and appreciation to our unsung heroes, warriors, frontliners and backliners who have been and are still fighting to keep the country and the people safe and healthy,” he added.
Also conveying his appreciation to frontliners was deputy directorgeneral (medical) Datuk Dr Rohaizat Yon, who said there were sufficient resources to meet the rising number of cases in the country and the increased demand for Covid-19 tests.
“We realise frontliners and backliners have a tough job, and it is not easy wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) for hours.
“We will ensure that there is sufficient human resource and equipment needed as the screening of the disease will definitely increase,” he said.
Dr Rohaizat said doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel had been deployed to help ease the burden of the already overstretched frontliners and backliners.
“PPE and Covid-19 test kits are distributed to the places which need them most. We will not let our beloved staff face the challenge without adequate protection,” he said.