Cuti Raya Day 3

MidValley Raya Decor 2, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

Hey! Nice tree!It was raining when I got up, which is a pain since I have to go to UMMC this morning, taking my Uncle to see my Urologist colleague. The appointment was at 9.30 and since there were some issues about his scans and what not, we only managed to get everything sorted by 11.30. There will be follow-up after Raya and it is more than likely that he will have to undergo an operation.

On the way back, I decided to drop by at MidValley after hearing a alot about their Raya decor. I arrived there just after mid day and the crowd has already started building up. Apparently it was worst yesterday. A lot of the crowd has already left for their balik kampong ritual. I look forward to an empty KL in the next few days.

More Malay Kampong touchesThe decor was as sweet as what was described. It cartoon replica of a traditional Malay kampung, made of wood. And they are actually functional. Some of the decors were used as stalls where you can buy cookies and other Raya goodies. There is also a big stage in the middle, presumably for music and fashion shows I must say that compared to Lat's work in KLCC, this was on a smaller scale. They are also a lot more predictable, with elements of Malay kampong. I found it lack 'character' and spirit. If you were to ask school children to design a set around the theme of kampong, I am sure they will come up with something similar to this. It lacks originality and innovation. I found it to be too functional.

Lat's work in KLCC is more colourful. You can relate to it a lot more with characters from his Kampong Boy repertoire. You can tell that the designer actually comes from a kampong. It did not try to hit it over our heads that this is what a kampong should look like. It was more involved and evolved. At least that was what my take was.

I reached my home just in time for Jumaat Solat. After Solat, felt tired and decided to take a power nap. It was fine until the power nap actually took a good 3 hours! I was really knocked out. When I woke up, at least my sore throat was gone. I was more than likely carrying a virus, hence the reason for the lethargy. We therefore had to skip Idlan's music class.

From aboveI had to run a few errands after berbuka and drove past Alpha Angle. Can't help but to smile when I saw the queue into the car park. Plenty of people were out to do last minute shopping. I went by to buy some Tandoori, and now back home. Drizzling outside. Maybe it's time for another power nap.

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 .......

Another afternoon of the Waiting Game

I spent the afternoon with my sister. She was not feeling well last night but we thought that it was just a simple virus. Her husband was due to leave for Kota Kinabalu this morning to attend a conference. Everything was OK when he left.

By mid-day however, my sister developed some tummy ache and a slight fever. She went to see a GP. She was having pain on right side of her abdomen by now and it was getting worst. Whe was still able to walk. My Dad called me, and I arranged for her to come and meet me at the Casualty.

She looked tired and weak, but was still able to walk around. Doctors came and examine her and at the everyone thought that she may have appendicitis. Everyone was however doubly nice to us, but I am sure it is something to do with me being a staff there.

It's late afternoon now and we are still waiting for the senior surgeon to come. His junior has decided to admit my sister anyhow. Therefore we are just waiting to see what happen.

Appendicitis, although sounds trivial can be tricky to diagnose even by a senior doctor. Some patient comes in with pain worst than giving birth, but only yurn out to be nothing, while others came in with very minor symptoms that turned out to be an abscess.

I hope that she will be OK after a period of observation. Her husband is rather anxious to find out if he needs to travel back to KL. But at the moment, all we can do it wait.

Lesson from Singapore

Morning Talk by Prof Ho from Singapore NUS, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

We wouldn't like to admit it, but there are things we could learn from our Southern neighbour. And we are not just talking about how to make a sitcom here.

This morning, the Faculty received a visit from a Professor from NUS in Singapore. He basically told us the story of how the healthcare system in Singapore been undergoing a major revamp since the turn of the millenium. And it all started from a realisation of something very obvious.

First, Doctors were leaving for Private practice in droves and that needed stopping. Second, the only real advancement can only be made if backed by R&D. In short, there are investment needed to be made into the health system, and it is not to build the biggest hospital with no specialist, or to purchase a CT machine to be hidden in a basement. The money should be channeled directly at the target. Increase the Faculty members pay packet, spend the money for research opportunity for these Faculty members and spend the money on proper human resource development, not on just some 'modal insan' mambo jumbo.

It all started with a simple questionnaire distributed to all doctors at one of the main hospital, asking what they detest most about their job and what it the main reason why they are still at it. The main reason why they want to leave is 1) the pay is a lot better outside, 2) limited career prospect for advancement. The next thing they do was realign the services, and change the hospital demography of the island down into 4 'district' hospital and 2 University Hospitals, the '4 plus 2' plan.

At the hospital, to promote career development, the Faculty Members were introduced into 4 career tracks, ranging from pure Clinicians to mainly Researchers. The promotion criteria will be aligned to each career tracks and everyone knows exactly what is required of them. At least what it sounded on paper. In en updated survey, they seems to be looking at early success. The staff retention rate looked good and their research output is also on the rise. The feedback from the Medical Students and patients also seems better than before, but Prof Ho himself felt that it is too early to paint any conclusions.

I find the talk fascinating and Prof Ho has plenty of insight to offer us. Realistically however, with a more intellectual population (and politicians) and smaller, and more compact geography, these major rethinking is much easier to implement in Singapore. The fact that the Minister of Health also tended to be medical doctors does help! The fact that they realised that something was wrong in the first place, quickly proposed a solution and implemented it is something that I admire. If only we can have similar strive for a goal, any goals, than there is hope for my beloved 1Malaysia.

Practice makes perfect

090604 Badminton Practice, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

The lecturers have a badminton match coming up next week against the Medical Officers. We decided to have a training session. A few of us turned up, minus one of our star player who decided to give the match a miss. He may be way too good for it anyhow.

The session did last a couple of hours and as per tradition, we topped it off with dinner and teh tarik. I had a hugely disappointing mee goreng mamak. Never to go to the same shop again methinks!