Living with Covid-19

Date: 12 December 2020, Saturday

Time: 2.00pm

Venue: Webinar (Google Meet)

Note: Participants will receive the link to the webinar in a follow-up email after registration.

The protracted and global nature of the Covid-19 pandemic is having repercussions on daily life—and on international affairs—in ways that no one could have predicted. The 1918 flu pandemic lasted for exactly two years, and this appears to be a reasonable timeline for any plans concerning Covid-19 today.

So how are we to survive Covid-19? Apart from physical survival, what most of us are concerned about is how we will be affected by prolonged lockdowns, by bans on travel, by schools and childcare centres staying closed, by limitations on outdoor and social life and by political control on movements, and sanctions on behaviour. How are we collectively to develop rational and effective ways to get back as well as we can without losing too much of what are beloved parts of our culture. Disorientation is a defining factor for a crisis, and therefore limiting disorientation is a vital goal in fighting a crisis.

Penang Institute, with this webinar where three medical doctors, and one of Penang’s most innovative social activists, are involved, would like to contribute to this discussion.

Opening remarks by:

1. Dato' Dr Anwar Fazal (President of the Dr Wu Lien-Teh Society)

2. Dr Parmjit Singh (President of the Penang Medical Practitioner's Society)

Speakers:

1. Dr Ong Hean Teik

Topic: Medical facts for living with Covid-19

Dr Ong Hean Teik has been working as a physican and cardiologist in Penang since 1990. He has academic articles published in numerous international medical journals. He has spoken at public forums during the SARS and H1N1 outbreaks in Penang. He is editor of the PMPS annual magazine which focuses on Covid-19 this year.

2. Dr Chow Sze Loon

Topic: Roles of public health in the Covid-19 pandemic: the Penang experience

Dr. Chow Sze Loon served in Sabah after obtaining his medical degree. His involvement in the Flying Doctor Service, Mobile Clinic and visits to the Plantation Health Clinic around Tawau offered him rare and valuable insights into healthcare beyond the scope of the hospital. Upon completing his Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), he was posted as the Port Health Officer in Penang, developing and implementing the necessary core public health capacities at sea port and airport to limit the spread of public health risks. Until July 2020, Dr. Chow was heading the CPRC (Crisis Preparedness & Response Centre) which acts as the Public Health Emergency Operation Centre in Penang State Health Department carrying out the surveillance, preparedness and response activities on infectious diseases outbreak, crisis, disaster and emergency in the state. Currently, he is leading the Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) District Health Office based in Nibong Tebal as the District Health Officer.

3. Dr Chow Ting Soo

Topic: Personal protective measures in clinical

Dr Chow Ting Soo is currently a Consultant Physician and Infectious Disease Consultant at the Infectious Disease Unit of the Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. She is also the Penang State Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator since 2016. She received her medical degree from USM. She obtained a membership in the Royal College of Physicians, UK, then further sub-specialised in infectious diseases under the Ministry of Health Malaysia program. Dr Chow then went onto to St. Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst in Sydney to the Infectious Diseases Unit and obtained training in Clinical Microbiology. She has been appointed as a committee member for the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan for the hospital, and at the state level. She has also participated in several clinical research trials for HIV treatments and antibiotics which has been published in international peer reviewed journals.

Moderator: Dato' Dr Ooi Kee Beng, Executive Director, Penang Institute