GEORGE TOWN – Penang’s Covid-19 infection numbers are going down, but consultant paediatrician & allergy specialist at Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre, Datuk Dr S. Sellappan says that the state is not out of the woods just yet as there are still a high number of level four and five patients.
“Now, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is full, and there are patients who need ventilators. However, they are all used.
“They have to wait for one person to come off the ventilator, and it all depends on when those advanced in the sickness die or recover.
“Some patients are already struggling to breathe, and without the help of the ventilators, they might not survive,” he said.
Representing Malaysian Nagarathars (a group of well-meaning Malaysian Indians belonging to the Nattukottai Chettiar community), they are donating five Fisher & Packard Airvo2 High Flow Nasal Canula machines to five different government hospitals in Malaysia.
“This machine will help the hospitals manage critically ill (level three and four) patients in the ward during high utilisation of ICU beds nationwide, thereby freeing up ventilators for level five patients.
“It gives high-pressure oxygen via the mask, so you don’t need a ventilator. One can actually use it in the ward, and it will help them to breathe for one or two days, as they wait for the ventilators to free up.
“Some of them who use it recover, and they won’t need the ventilator anymore,” he added.
The group bought the devices based on the advice of the hospitals. It is believed that there is a need for about 20 more High Flow Nasal Canula machines as there are many Covid-19 patients in level three, four and five.
Each machine, with disposables, costs approximately RM30,000. The funds to purchase the five machines are generated solely from individuals and temples of the Nagarathar community.
One machine each was donated to Hospital Pulau Pinang, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah Alor Setar and Hospital Serdang. Two more will be donated to two other hospitals next week.
Penang has seen a significant decline of Covid-19 cases this week with 97 cases reported yesterday, and 99 the day before, after weeks of recording 200 or more cases. – The Vibes, June 18, 2021.
