Happy Ramadhan

Pasar Ramadhan 1, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

Yup! I bravely stepped out to go to the local Pasar Ramadhan. It was teaming with people, contrary to what I expected. Not many of the were wearing mask. At least they are being sensible. There were plenty of stalls, and all the usual suspects were available. As for me, it is the typical 'air asam boi', 'cucur udang' and chicken wings 'madu'. Got all of them, and really content. Have to wait for berbuka (breaking fast), to see if they taste as good as they look.

Packed!I spent the morning at the doctor's clinic to pick up Idlan's MC which we forgotten yesterday. Alhamdulillah, Idlan is fine today, running around as usual. Come afternoon, a quick drive to Taman Melawati for the Pasar Ramadhan. Even though it is 10 minutes from my house and there are other stalls nearby, I have been frequenting there for the last 15 years, even during the time I was studying in the UK, if I have the chance to celebrate Eid at home.

As I mentioned, there were surprisingly plenty of people. I had to park by the roadside. There were even reporters from TV3 doing reports, and I can see the cameras panning around. The reporter stopped a few people for quick chats. I was concentrating on my chicken wings though! I decided to drive there early, at 4pm to just have a look. It turned out to be packed instead. Oh well!

Since it was only 4.45 when I got home, I went out again for a haircut. The usual mamak joint of course, with the beck neck-twisting action and back massage. Nice, and I still have feeling on my feet!

Trip to the Padiatricians

This dog is hot!, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

Yes! Idlan developed a temperature and everybody at home turned into instant diagnostician! He has H1N1!

I said no, but unfortunately I was the only one who thought so at the house. Not the seven others, and that's not including the servants! He developed the temperature in the middle of the night and my mother-in-law insisted on me driving him to the Casualty. I just pretended I did not hear her, and finally when I decided to speak, I said if we rush him to Casualty we may give him H1N1. She was not impressed obviously.

Before seeing the doctorDespite the temperature, he was jumping up and down wrestling with his brother and playing on his Wii. After some paracetamol, he got better. The next morning he was fine but come the afternoon, the temperature returned. Alright then. Asked my colleague to cover me for the afternoon and took him to Pantai to see their Dr Azam. They are really fond of this former colleague of mine, and does not mind being prodded and poked, as long as it was by Dr Azam.

There was high temperature, but no sign of serious infection. We put him on antibiotics, and before long he was back to his old trick. Back home, my wife was on the internet all night, reading all sorts of ridiculous stories about H1N1. How it is signaling the end of the world etc etc.

My mother-in-law said should he develop another bout of temperature, we should go for second opinion, preferably to a GP that she swears by in Kampong Baru. Allegedly, he once saved her life by a timely intervention of giving her Paracetamol just at the right time .... Huzzah! I am a decent doctor, but I have not yet acquired the skill to cure multiple ailment with paracetamol. Maybe an extra few years in Hogwarts should sort that one out.

Soon after that, the waiting area got thrashed .... hehehe .... Run!Even Idlan's teacher called asking why he missed his kindergarten class. We explained to her that he has fever. We were asked to bring a doctor's letter, which I thought was plainly insulting. Well! The world has gone gaga with this pandemic and we are yet to face the second wave.

Finally, after everything settled down, I managed to settle one final crave before tomorrow's Ramadhan. Yes! I need some KFC, and I want it now! Sorted that one out in double quick time. Have to return to Pantai later today though, as I needed to pick up the doctor's letter. Or maybe I should just forge it! The teacher said a letter from a doctor, not which particular doctor .......

The boy with the mask!

The boy with the mask!, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

The H1N1 pandemic has certainly hit fever pitch here in Malaysia - pun intended. You should listen to the parents' meeting at the entrance of Idlan's kindergarten. There are even parents who are planning to keep their children away until the pandemic ends .... ie next year? Even my wife caught the bug (another pun). She was asking me about all sorts and basically being the middle person to all of Idlan's classmate parents. Should they wear masks? What brand of mask? Is the RM3 better than the 50 sen ones? Why was the school not closed? I think rather than bitching around about it, they should just read about the public guideline and get on with their life!

However, there will be another group that will affected by all this. The People selling breakfast food during Ramadhan. It is common knowledge that some people actually take unpaid leave during the month to open up business. They rake in a hell of a lot.

Ramadhan in Malaysia is a time where everybody mingle around. The shopping malls will be full with shoppers buying new wares for the coming Hari Raya. Before breaking fast, it is almost traditional that they visit the stalls to buy food. These makeshift markets are called 'Pasar Ramadhan' and they spring up like mushroom.

At night, people go out again shopping in the streets. It is much cooler at night compared to the day. They can also eat out. A lot of people also frequent the mosques and surau for Tarawikh prayers every night. I am sure that there will be an effect to the way we celebrate Ramadhan and Hari Raya.

While we are on the subject of Hari Raya, the celebration will definitely be dented this year. I can announce a big open house because I am sure nobody will be coming ... hehehe! Have a blessed Ramadhan!

Conundrum at home

Day Out at Hartamas 7, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

Idlan had another asthma attack this morning and everybody was rather hesitant about getting him back to school. We decided to miss today. Anita was worried that his classmates had been abroad during their 3 weeks off and may have contracted the flu. She wanted to 'quarantine' Idlan in the first week the school started. I thought that it was an overeaction, but after reading stories about how the young ones that contracted H1N1 being casualties, I can understand how Anita felt like that.

It seems that there is another U-turn in the government's effort to combat the virus. It seems that school closure is now back on the agenda. No throat swab for everybody unless they are really high risk needing hospital admission etc etc. Unfortunately the definitive and up to date information source is still lacking. This is an area that resources and effort needed to be put into.

To a certain extend, the damage has already been done with the clear panic amongst the general public. Even the health professionals are getting confused with which guidelines needed following. There are too many revision and it seems that the goal-post is being shifted on a day-to-day basis. For example, what is the government's stance on the use of PPE (personal protection equipment - facemask etc)? Is the normal surgical mask good enough. Do we need N95s? Are the mask needed at all? Everyone seems to think that the measly surgical masks are godsend and my local chemist is selling them for RM1 each! Easy money eh? I should just rid my ward cupboard and still a box of N95s .... easy bucks to be made there.

I can't stress this more, we need a portal for an accurate and consistent information. We are bracing ourselves for the second wave, and still I am waiting for the selsemababi.com.my to be launched!

H1N1 hitting UMMC

Prof Aw in his H1N1 Address, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

We have to face the fact that the pandemic is going on. No point hiding away or pretend that everything is hunky-dory. At the same time, there is no point going overboard on pandemic that has been on the horizon for some time. A couple of academic staffs and another couple of doctors are awaiting further tests, while another two patients are in ICU, presumed due to H1N1. It is a serious matter, but the panic surrounding the whole situation may prove to be just as if not more dangerous.

Yesterday, one of UM alumnus, Prof Aw Tar-ching gave a talk on the steps taken in UAE where he is working now. It was clear, in a country that depends on tourist traffic, a panic will hurt the economy hard. He outlined that the most important thing we have to do now is to have a consistent and accurate portal for information dissemination. What is happening now is more of sporadic, knee-jerk like statements from the powers that be on this policy and that. It will just create confusion. Or even worst, it in itself may give the public a sense that the government is also panicking behind the scene.

Remember, consistent and accurate information .... I think that is what we need .......