TAKING to X today, former health director-general, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah recalled the first day of an unprecedented lockdown due to Covid-19.
"Today March 18, exactly four years ago we faced our first day of an unprecedented lockdown due to Covid-19.
"We did not have therapeutic medicines and vaccines then, coupled with limited diagnostic capacity using PCR.
"It was a historic moment to enforce Act 342 for the whole country. In hindsight, the Covid-19 pandemic tested our resilience and unity like never before," he wrote.
He said that this Ramadan month, it was timely for us to reflect and leverage the lessons learned to be better prepared and to strengthen our Health System.
"We must count our blessings during those trying times to overcome adversity. Let us not forget the unity that carried us through, embracing the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
"Let us not forget the spirit of togetherness and community empowerment. Let us not forget the lives that were lost and morbidity from long Covid.
"My greatest fear is people forget what they learned during the Covid-19 pandemic and not invest in their health and health system," he added. - The Vibes, March 18, 2024