Tired but honoured to serve

Doctors vow to fight Covid-19 until battle is won

PETALING JAYA: They are really very tired, but medical frontliners vowed they would never give up the fight until the battle against Covid-19 is won.

Dr Then Moli Othayamoorthy, who works at a Covid-19 screening centre in a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, said screening up to 70 patients per shift, performing swabs on suspected Covid-19 patients, as well as donning and doffing (the protective clothing) several times a day can be very exhausting.

“What is more – having to screen your own friends can be disheartening,” she said in a Facebook post, adding that, sometimes, frontliners are exposed to patients who are not forthcoming about their condition.

She urged the public to be honest with any possible exposure to the Covid-19 virus, so as to be mindful of the healthcare professionals who have to screen them.

“Remember, we have a family, too.

“I am also someone’s daughter, wife, sister, family and friend.

“It has been weeks since I last visited my parents and siblings for fear of possible exposure at work and risking their lives,” she said.

She, however, added that she was “proud and honoured” to extend her service and contribution to the country’s efforts in combating Covid-19.

Also sharing his experience online is another doctor, Khalif Sidratul Muntaha.

He had earlier resigned from his job but decided to make a comeback to the healthcare profession by volunteering as a frontliner.

“After almost five years in the

Health Ministry as a medical officer, I took a big decision to resign and give all my time and effort to (my) family by doing takaful business.

“When the world announced the Covid-19 pandemic, I knew this is the time for me to make a comeback, to be a frontliner during one of the most difficult situations that we have ever seen in our lifetime,” he said.

He added that he had submitted his volunteer proposal and got the go-ahead from the Crisis Preparedness And Response Centre to start his duty yesterday.