The President of the Fiji Medical Association, Doctor Basharat Munshi is pleading to the people in the country to all come together to win against COVID-19 as our health workforce has been stretched to breaking point from the demands imposed by this monster.
Doctor Munshi says they in the health workforce are just like you all.
He says they have family members and friends to whom they are dear and they also rely on the medical workers to support them.
Doctor Munshi says they have children who idolize them and are genuinely concerned about their parents when they see all the pain and suffering that COVID patients go through.
He says their children fear that their mum and dad may get sick or may even die because they have seen on the news that people are dying from COVID.
Doctor Munshi says their concerns are genuine as no one wants to lose their parent.
He says it is a calling to become a doctor, nurse or paramedic.
The President of the Fiji Medical Association says they understand and acknowledge the intrinsic risk they impose on themselves by choosing this profession.
He says the desire to help heal the people is what drives them despite the risks involved.
Doctor Munshi says his heart goes out to his fellow brothers and sisters who have lost loved ones to COVID.
He says it is coming to a stage where our beloved nation is crumbling under the intense attack of this monster.
Doctor Munshi says it is coming to the point where many of them either know someone who has got COVID, or worse, someone who has become very sick from it and even died from it.
He says sadly, one of their health colleagues, a doctor succumbed from COVID recently.
Doctor Munshi says it was a moment of despair and immense sadness for all health workers.
He says they have the utmost respect for all their fellow Fijians.
The Medical Association President says COVID-19 is something that has been widely studied and continues to be studied and their people are actively keeping abreast educating themselves in regards to how this disease is evolving.
Doctor Munshi says their people also genuinely care about their fellow citizens and will go out of their way to help and protect them in their time of need.
He says they know that we are in the midst of the greatest infectious disease challenge we have ever faced in our lifetimes.
Doctor Munshi says we know that without fighting together, many more people will get sick and many will die.
He says they know that together, we have the collective power to stop more of us getting sick and losing lives.
Doctor Munshi says they know that when we start working together, the virus stands no chance.
He also says there are too many heroes to acknowledge as this war rages on.
The Medical Association President says there are heroes that are at the frontlines of this war fighting to contain the virus and trying to heal the sick.
He says their faith in the goodness of our people is what gives them hope.
Doctor Munshi says their unwavering belief that our people will fight side by side by doing the little things right that they know will halt this virus in its track.
He has also thanked the hard working doctors and scientists for coming up with vaccinations in record times to give us the best hope yet of neutralizing this monster.
Doctor Munshi says our people know that this is the game changer and through a unified national effort, we will reach the goal of herd immunity.
He says we have done this before with other diseases such as measles and polio to name a few.
The Medical Association President says they acknowledge that some of you may want further information and guidance from the medical doctors as to what exactly are COVID-safe practices and they have been doing their best to try and engage with you to help you understand better.
He also says some of you have genuine fears about this disease and about vaccinations and they acknowledge this and they are here to listen to your fears and doubts and do their best to guide you.
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