STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT
Fellow Members of the Malaysian Arthroscopy Society,
I hope this message finds you, wherever you are, in good health and safe conditions. I am sure many of us over the last few weeks have experienced feelings of concern, worry and maybe even fear. The state of affairs of not just our country, but the entire world, have been thrown into disarray with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemics are not something new to our generation. In the last two decades, we have seen at least four epidemic or pandemic level outbreaks happening throughout the world. However, it is COVID-19 that has had the greatest impact on our communities and economies.
On a national level, the MAS Council has been keeping abreast with all the latest information and we have discussed our personal experiences from both the government and private hospital points of view. The Restricted Movement Order implemented by the Malaysian government has been a radical one but is for the common good of Malaysians. With elective surgeries now being postponed to make room for hospitals to accommodate the increasing number of infected patients, our position as Sports and Arthroscopy surgeons are affected.
In this time of uncertainty, I would like to encourage all of you to focus on personal development. One thing that thrives regardless of any situation is education. We are blessed with the gift of the internet and online communication. Use it to your advantage. Many societies and health and medical corporations are organizing online webinars and talks to ensure that updates within the field of medicine still go out. Be part of that community and enrich your existing pool of knowledge with the latest in our field. If you have chosen to be of service to your medical institution in the identification and treatment of COVID-19 patients, we from the MAS sincerely thank you for your service and wish you the best. Working out of our field of expertise will also prove to be an insightful experience as you commit to the Hippocratic oath taken when you joined the field.
The months ahead are filled with uncertainty. There are whispers of the situation being far from over, while others believe we will overcome this situation very soon. What history teaches us is that though the human spirit will be tested in varying degrees, it always comes out thriving in the end. Stay safe, consult trusted information providers for the latest updates and keep carrying on.
Col Dr Azmi Abdul Latif
MAS President
2019 - 2021
