“When I came to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in May, there were barely any Covid-19 cases. When the outbreak began in Lahad Datu and Semporna, we were wary but, at the time, it was still localised.
“But when the election started, it got crazier. The PUI (person under investigation) station was filling up fast,” says the 27-year-old healthcare worker, who does not wish to be named.
She tells FMT that in her opinion, the lockdown was implemented too late as many had already left Semporna to Kota Kinabalu and Peninsula Malaysia.
In Kota Kinabalu, this led to a massive surge in cases that necessitated the Queen Elizabeth Hospital be converted into a designated Covid-19 hospital.
She said initially there were only a few isolation wards. Now there are 10 such wards in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, resulting in all orthopaedic and surgical cases being referred to Queen Elizabeth II Hospital.
“When the news broke that the ICU in Queen Elizabeth II Hospital was on lockdown, it was a big blow because Covid-19 patients are not the only ones who need ICU care.
“The patients here, they gather money from the village just to get transport to go to the hospital, especially in rural areas. I’ve had patients who suffer from thalassemia but are unable to go for regular blood transfusions because they don’t have transport,” she says.
She tells FMT that the patients she encounters are always in disbelief that they contracted the virus because they had not travelled nor, to their knowledge, had any contact with existing Covid-19 patients.
“They are very worried for their loved ones because of the close contact, and they feel guilt for infecting them. But, so far, they have been quite understanding about how full our wards are here.”
She says that by the time her shift ends, not only is she exhausted but she finds herself drenched from head to toe in sweat.
“When you wear the PPE, it’s like wrapping yourself up in non-breathable plastic. You sweat so much that all your clothes become completely soaked through,” she said, adding that since they are trying to limit the number of PPEs used, she sometimes has to wear hers for nine hours straight.
“I get so tired. Sometimes my hands tremble so much when I’m trying to insert an [IV] line. I’ve had colleagues who are close to passing out because the water loss is so profound,” she says, describing how dire the situation has become for many of the healthcare workers like her.
Living with her family, she says she is in constant fear of infecting them with the virus.
She relates a recent scare when a patient in the yellow zone was diagnosed as Covid-19 positive although the individual presented no symptoms except for a high-grade fever. The patient also had no travel history or contact with other Covid-19 patients.
“I live with my siblings, my 60-year-old father and 54-year old mother so when I found out later that the patient was Covid-19 positive, I was so fearful.
“But I think that’s what healthcare workers have to live with every day – the possibility of bringing the virus home despite taking all the precautions. It challenges you mentally, leaving you constantly scared and paranoid.”
Despite working long hours and battling the odds, there is nothing but determination and strength in her voice.
“When you’re a healthcare worker at a time like this, you just have to be proud to serve your country.
“A lot of people feel that they are young and that the cases are very few so they can still go out like any usual day. We have also been following the SOPs for so long, and there’s a tendency to become lax.”
With the pandemic in full swing, she urges all Malaysians to take the SOPs seriously and not to go out unnecessarily.
“You might be young and healthy but you can still carry the virus back to your friends and family.
“We healthcare workers are doing the very best we can. Yes, we are a little burned out, but we will give our best to the nation.
“Everyone can play a role in helping in any way possible, whether it’s in donating PPEs or making cash donations,” she says.