TACKLING a novel virus outbreak is not unfamiliar to Malaysian doctors. Malaysians at large may overlook the 1999 Nipah virus outbreak in Malaysia but any medical student from Universiti Malaya (UM) who walks the very hallway where the Nipah virus was first discovered knows better than to forget its rich history.
Almost two decades ago, clinicians in Malaysia were challenged with a deadly zoonotic virus that claimed more than 100 lives which led to a massive pig-culling effort. In fact, the current Dean of UM’s Faculty of Medicine, Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman herself was a front-line Infectious Disease physician treating patients infected with Nipah virus at that time. Additionally, many prominent doctors who were awarded the prestigious Merdeka Award for solving the scientific conundrum of Nipah virus are now senior consultants at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
Fast forward many years later, we are currently seeing a massive global spread of another novel zoonotic virus with a high mortality rate, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of the current Covid-19 outbreak. The question is, has the lessons from the past better prepared us for today’s crisis?
A fact rarely acknowledged is that the first responder to a patient with signs and symptoms of a novel virus infection is commonly a junior healthcare staff. This could either be a houseman officer, a medical officer and/or a medical student.
Therefore, identifying at-risk patients in order to initiate treatment and isolation becomes a crucial task, if not a public health obligation. This prompt detection must take place in a safe setting, whereby healthcare staff are protected from the dangers of being infected while simultaneously delivering healthcare services to the public.
However, in the preoccupation of caring for sick patients in a busy clinical setting, it becomes increasingly easy to disregard self-care. Thus, taking proactive steps to educate junior medical staff on updated information regarding the outbreak and its preventive measures is vital.
Hence, UM’s Faculty of Medicine, held a special theme session addressing the responsibilities of healthcare professionals when faced with the novel coronavirus outbreak. Attended by over 200 audience consisting mainly of junior healthcare staff from various specialties, the session outlined the clinical presentation and mode of transmission of Covid-19 alongside the duties of treating medical personnel.
For medical students who were seated at the session, it is difficult not to recognise that the principles of approaching the current Covid-19 outbreak is somewhat similar to the wisdom gained from the Malaysian Nipah virus outbreak in 1999. After all, the MBBS curriculum at UM includes at least five lectures and a seminar session to teach students about the local experience from the 1999 Nipah virus outbreak. It shows that for doctors, they treat a little better when they stand on the shoulder of giants.
Acknowledging the need to be better equipped, medical students too have been taking steps to prepare themselves to become doctors who are ready to face uncertainties and daunting clinical situations. This preparation includes the addition of a renowned Malaysian medical microbiologist, Prof Dr Victor Lim Kok Eow into their line of speakers at MEDxUM, which is the annual flagship faculty student conference organised by Ibnu Sina Residential College in collaboration with UM’s Faculty of Medicine.
Prof Lim will be sharing about how junior medical staff can equip themselves with the mental strength and skills to face unforeseeable clinical circumstances such as outbreaks of deadly infection. Alongside Prof Lim, MEDxUM which is scheduled to take place on April 4 will also feature interactive exhibitions and forums in collaboration with 20 senior specialists. Medical students, housemen and medical officers from all over Malaysia are invited to discover the accredited pathways to specialisation as well as engage in discussions about the houseman glut and the contract system for doctors.
To register a place and know more about MEDxUM 2020, visit the website at https://bit.ly/2UiBn5F.
SUBASHAN VADIBELER
Fourth year medical student
Universiti Malaya
Director, MEDxUM 2020
Almost two decades ago, clinicians in Malaysia were challenged with a deadly zoonotic virus that claimed more than 100 lives which led to a massive pig-culling effort. In fact, the current Dean of UM’s Faculty of Medicine, Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman herself was a front-line Infectious Disease physician treating patients infected with Nipah virus at that time. Additionally, many prominent doctors who were awarded the prestigious Merdeka Award for solving the scientific conundrum of Nipah virus are now senior consultants at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
Fast forward many years later, we are currently seeing a massive global spread of another novel zoonotic virus with a high mortality rate, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of the current Covid-19 outbreak. The question is, has the lessons from the past better prepared us for today’s crisis?
A fact rarely acknowledged is that the first responder to a patient with signs and symptoms of a novel virus infection is commonly a junior healthcare staff. This could either be a houseman officer, a medical officer and/or a medical student.
Therefore, identifying at-risk patients in order to initiate treatment and isolation becomes a crucial task, if not a public health obligation. This prompt detection must take place in a safe setting, whereby healthcare staff are protected from the dangers of being infected while simultaneously delivering healthcare services to the public.
However, in the preoccupation of caring for sick patients in a busy clinical setting, it becomes increasingly easy to disregard self-care. Thus, taking proactive steps to educate junior medical staff on updated information regarding the outbreak and its preventive measures is vital.
Hence, UM’s Faculty of Medicine, held a special theme session addressing the responsibilities of healthcare professionals when faced with the novel coronavirus outbreak. Attended by over 200 audience consisting mainly of junior healthcare staff from various specialties, the session outlined the clinical presentation and mode of transmission of Covid-19 alongside the duties of treating medical personnel.
For medical students who were seated at the session, it is difficult not to recognise that the principles of approaching the current Covid-19 outbreak is somewhat similar to the wisdom gained from the Malaysian Nipah virus outbreak in 1999. After all, the MBBS curriculum at UM includes at least five lectures and a seminar session to teach students about the local experience from the 1999 Nipah virus outbreak. It shows that for doctors, they treat a little better when they stand on the shoulder of giants.
Acknowledging the need to be better equipped, medical students too have been taking steps to prepare themselves to become doctors who are ready to face uncertainties and daunting clinical situations. This preparation includes the addition of a renowned Malaysian medical microbiologist, Prof Dr Victor Lim Kok Eow into their line of speakers at MEDxUM, which is the annual flagship faculty student conference organised by Ibnu Sina Residential College in collaboration with UM’s Faculty of Medicine.
Prof Lim will be sharing about how junior medical staff can equip themselves with the mental strength and skills to face unforeseeable clinical circumstances such as outbreaks of deadly infection. Alongside Prof Lim, MEDxUM which is scheduled to take place on April 4 will also feature interactive exhibitions and forums in collaboration with 20 senior specialists. Medical students, housemen and medical officers from all over Malaysia are invited to discover the accredited pathways to specialisation as well as engage in discussions about the houseman glut and the contract system for doctors.
To register a place and know more about MEDxUM 2020, visit the website at https://bit.ly/2UiBn5F.
SUBASHAN VADIBELER
Fourth year medical student
Universiti Malaya
Director, MEDxUM 2020
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