No Fear is not good…

It’s just a few days into the Chinese New Year holidays and already more that 10 people died in accidents..

I am writing this as a reminder to myself  because I am also driving back to Pahang  tomorrow..

People actually forget that the vehicles they are riding/driving are also weapons..like a double edged sword that can kill the wielder and the opponent…

I don’t think that people are ignorant of what can happen..they just don’t fear the consequences…

I’ve read somewhere the saying “the best warrior is someone who fears his own sword”..because of that..a warrior will always train that his skills will match his sword’s danger..

Therefore..a driver/rider should always know their limits and skills…and I don’t think that this idea was ever taught in driving lessons….

Berhati2 di Jalan Raya and May Allah bless everyone on the road tomorrow…

Dr Jamil..

Less than a week ago I heard that Dr Jamil Habib Attamimi,a lecturer of ours died from cancer.

I remember he told us that he was born in Iraq,raised there,studied medicine in Russia and worked in Kuwait before the war broke out,he then moved to Russia and was married to a Russian practicing in Volgograd as a Gastroenterologist.

He was a  charismatic lecturer, stern but also with a fun side, I don’t know how many students cried because of his scoldings, but when he knew that some students was mocking him,saying that he looks like Saddam Hussein(even writing/drawing about it on the desk)..he laughed about it saying “Yes,I think I’m the Russian Saddam Hussein”

He taught my group for 3 semesters and even though initially we thought that it was our bad luck to get the strictest lecturer of all,but in the end we really  bonded. I can still see him smiling from afar when he came for our graduation ceremony congratulating every student that he taught with pride,knowing he put us through hell earlier so that we can be better doctors(I later learnt that he  requested to teach us on the 2nd and 3rd semester.Alhamdulillah)

Being the only Muslim lecturer from the mainly  Atheist and Christian workforce, we were blessed when he talked about keeping our Amanah and showing Akhlaq for our patients,in between Hypothyroidism and Chronic Renal Disease,no other lecturer could have done that.He even taught us  a little about cooking..a  full recipe of Russian Plov(rice dish) that I’ve not tried yet.

There were also some funny moments in his class when a big black dog suddenly appeared and went straight for  us…and that was when Dr Jamil learnt that we Malays really..really are afraid of big black dogs…:)

But to me,the most memorable thing was when he commented about the American invading Iraq

“You know..Saddam Hussein is not a very good man,he  really did kill our people,but at least he had the humility to do it discreetly,the American came and killed my people in front of TV camera and no one can do anything”..

May Allah bless his soul..and may the knowledge that he taught us be beneficial to him and for all his students and their patients…

Al Fatihah to Dr Jamil Habib Attamimi..

Patient’s Story 1:Pak Cik’s train..

As doctors,we spend a lot of time talking to patients and some of them have such interesting stories and habits that made them more memorable than the usual “cough and cold” 

I have the habit of telling the most memorable ones to my wife during our long commute to Kuala Balah and one day she said”I think you should write them”

So here goes,it may be nothing to others,they may not learn anything from this..but I think..should write this..

Pak cik’s train…

When I was in my medical posting, I was attached for a few months at hospital Kuala Krai along with two buddies of mine.

Our usual workday consist of  doing rounds in the ward,with the MOs or specialist,doing the chores they ordered,then going down to the clinic to see outpatients.

There I met an interesting patient,a pakcik with heart problems and was admitted to our hospital a few months before.

He lives in a rural village deep in Gua Musang and the only way he can come for  follow ups is by a train after trekking for a few kilometers from his village.

The problem was that the train will go through his village only in the morning and later in the evening.

If he takes the morning train,he would arrive near midday to the station in Kuala Krai and after taking the bus/taxi to the hospital he’d arrive at noon,when the clinic was already closed(we only open till 1 pm).

So, still keen for our follow up,he decided that the best way was to take the evening train 1 day before his date,spend the night on the hard aluminium couch in the waiting area of the clinic(he can’t afford accommodations and have no relatives in Kuala Krai)!

He never complained and in the end we only noticed what he was doing after a few follow ups…

Some of us collected money to help him with the commute even though he never asked for it.

A few months ago,I met a friend still working in Kuala Krai and asked her about the pakcik,she told me that they now made an exception just for him,the doctors will see him at 3-4pm so that he can catch up his both of his trains…no more sleeping on the couch

So busy doctors out there..You may be tired with a throbbing headache from the sleepless night before,but remember when a patient comes to you,he may be spending the cold night on the couch spending rm40 for the trip while he makes only rm5 perday…ask him..

Wallahualam

Sometimes,we shouldn’t forgive and forget…

It always baffles me how people are more condoning when a celebrity does a mistake..

If it happens to be our own flesh and blood..we’ll scrutinise and even boycott him/her to death…

How many singers/actors  are/were drug addicts…involved in affairs…and everything was forgiven after 2,3 months of them laying low…

Recently a football player in Malaysia is involved  in numerous affairs…we even have picture proofs of them..however a friend of mine was compelled to write on the footballer’s behalf..asking for people to leave him alone…it sickens me…if it was any friend of his..I doubt that he would do that…

To me,the problem is not at the mistakes..but it’s the way how we,the majority are  accepting lewd behaviors from celebrities just because they are famous..

Worse thing in Malaysia..we also consider our politicians as celebrities..people who are supposed to be our leaders,models for our children are now made up with people with questionable characters..

Affairs,corruption,false allegations etc2..there’s even a case of a guy already reprimanded  and sacked for his wrongdoings..went under the radar for a few years..then was picked up and elected again…as if nothing had happened..

Imagine electing a thief..a scoundrel(and a fool) to be your captain for a voyage…it’s just unacceptable..are there no more good qualified people willing to lead us?

If this go on…we,the honest working class will sink with them…and it’s all because we forgive the wrong people… 

 

Random

I think we should ban the use of kencing manis to describe diabetes..it’s a gross misnomer and had indirectly led to many misunderstanding of  this chronic systemic disease..and led to many misleading treatments too.Kencing Manis(sweet urine) in Malay sound so shallow and not to be taken seriously as a disease.

And I also oppose the use of  Penyakit Kencing Tikus for describing Leptospirosis,popular after a comedian were alleged contracted and died from it,it was all over the news as if..it’s a news disease (it’s actually endemic in tropical country like Malaysia),politicians joined the bandwagon and some parks are declared as “Leptospirosis area” and public were banned to bath there.

My father is a diabetic and yesterday he told me a theory of how he got it,unlike my maternal side who has more than 5 diabetics with various complications,my paternal grandparents who both survived their 110 birthday were not.

My father(now in his early 70s) started working when our country were still young,and the last batches of our colonialist were still hanging around enjoying their good life in Malaysia.

At 26,he became the youngest FELDA manager working north of Malaysia,his bosses were mostly British but at the top was a Malay aristocrat related to royalties.

During weekends,the top tiers would throw parties till early morning entertaining  the big boss,and would binge themselves with alcoholic drinks all the way..

Because he and another Malay doesn’t drink..the aristocrat would ask my father to hold on to his guns(he got two of them!) saying “Hang pegang pistol-pistol aku ni..nanti kalau aku mabuk takut aku pi tembak orang pulak!”

So there he was,holding his boss’s’ gun,drinking Coca Cola instead of wine until 2am in the morning…

It was his favourire drink and I still remembered how he brought home crates of Coca Cola each Hari Raya…at least drinking 2,3 bottles perday…

Only when he was diagnosed with diabetes that he stopped..and he has good discipline too,like smoking(he smoked because it was considered cool),once he thinks it’s stupid..he stopped at once,and never touched them again…

Until now he’s considered a model patient because of his compliance and discipline in diet control..

A baby

10th November 2011 @1502

I became a father,and somehow it changed my world’s view…

Never felt love like that…after months of waiting… I held my baby in my arms..something inside me shifted as she stopped crying and listened(maybe my imagination) when I whispered the Iqamah to her ears…

And watching my wife suffered pain giving birth to our beautiful baby girl only made me love her more…thank you to my soulmate…

We named her Tuan Natrah Zulaikha..may Allah bless her with a good heart and wisdom…

Whatever she will be in the future I hope she will teach and spread good knowledge to others..

Today we noticed that she has dimples on both her cheeks…:)

 

sleeping soundly in the car…

Rain..Hujan..Dozdh..

It’s the rainy season here in Kelantan..and though Alhamdulillah there’s no flood in Kuala Balah(yet)..those working in Jeli are still affected by the flood in the Sungai Golok area…

For me..it’s an extra 30-40kms on the road as I had to take  the longer way through Tanah Merah instead of  via Rantau Panjang-Panglima Bayu(what a cool name for a kampung right!)route each time I commute between Kota Bharu and Kuala Balah

Kampung Reka…this whole road will be submerged 6 feet under water when it does flood here..

When it rains…the field of vision is about 2-3 meters only…dangerous indeed..

A branch at least 40cm thick broke and fell on this poor fella’s car! It went through his front  windscreen.The police are helping out directing traffic here…

 

Here’s a portal dedicated for flood in Kelantan…quite handy..and updated regularly.

 

Home Visit

Setiap Klinik Kesihatan Kerajaan akan diwujudkan Panel Penasihat Klinik,yang terdiri daripada orang awam yang tinggal di kawasan klinik dan kakitangan kementerian Kesihatan,tujuannya merapatkan hubungan kementerian dengan penduduk dengan mengadakan aktiviti2 bersama.(di hospital ada panel pelawat hospital)

Panel biasanya akan dipengerusikan oleh penduduk dan timbalannya adalah doktor(aku la tu) klinik tu.

Panel akan memilih aktiviti yang relevan dan dikehendaki oleh penduduk setempat,di klinik Kuala Balah, aktiviti kami adalah melawat pesakit kronik terlantar terutama mangsa stroke.

Di kawasan kampung Kuala Balah saja pon dah lebih kurang 20 orang yang terlantar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasukan ahli panel  terdiri daripada penduduk dan kakitangan klinik akan melawat pesakit yang dipilih oleh penduduk sendiri (so tak ada unsur pilih kasih dari klinik) , aku check general condition pesakit dan physiotherapist Encik Shamsul (ada sorang aje untuk Jajahan Jeli,so kena tempah dia awal2)akan check dan ajar pesakit dan ahli keluarga mereka senaman dan position yang sesuai untuk mengelakkan contracture sebab massive stroke dan terlantar lama sangat.

Harapnya kami boleh buat lebih kerap aktiviti begini,tapi kerana kekangan tugas dan jumlah staf,kami hanya boleh aim 2,3 kali sahaja setahun.Budget pun agak limited(siap nak tarik lagi),so kena la ada inisiatif sendiri.

Wallahualam.

 

Masjid…

Masjid-masjid:

1)Russia: rak kasut dan jaket di dalam masjid..tak ada penjaga..

2)Indonesia:rak kasut di dalam masjid..ada penjaga..

3)Mesir: rak kasut di dalam masjid..tiada penjaga

4)Turki: di luar masjid ada sedia plastik untuk letak kasut..dan kasut akan dibawa masuk dan ada rak ditengah saf…jaga sendiri

5)Malaysia:rak kasut di luar..tiada penjaga…tapi Malaysia ada kain pelikat..hampir semua masjid…kenapa?

Referrals

In primary care we do lots of referrals to respective teams/specialty..in my setting some patients have been having some chronic illnesses for some time(some years)..but never thought or knew where to get the proper treatment..so one of the jobs of doctors in primary care is to detect those and get them the best treatment that we can offer..

One good thing is most of the referrals are accepted..but some to my dismay was not even considered seriously..imagine someone who had a specific problem for years(e.g. urination)..waited for up to 3 months for a specialist to visit the nearest hospital for his appointment(specialists will come every 2 weeks to 2 months)..took a 40km bus trip…then waited again for a few hours for the  specialist to see him..with him an ultrasound(I arranged earlier) result saying that he has a problem with his right kidney..just to be seen for 5 minutes and hear”you have no problems..no need to come anymore”..rudely. .

I am no specialist but as a human I know that anyone who had went through all the above  need and deserve some attention and respect…some kind words and proper explanation are helpful even to the uneducated..they may not understand medical jargons but we can make them understand why do we do this and that…

Anyhow..I’ve learnt that if someone wrote basmallah somewhere..he will receive thawab as long as the words can be read,and every time it’s read…so I try to write basmallah on each of  my referrals…

                                                                                              Yes..my handwriting is bad….