| Column |
JANUARY-FEBRUARY , 2022 | THE HEALTH
27
DIFFERENT STROKES
BY ADI SATRIA
THE YEAR 2021 was indeed an eventful one . While the pandemic in Malaysia saw minimal signs of improvement , the year ended with the most devastating floods ever in the country ’ s history .
Yet for me , it was a year I continued to strengthen my resolve to improve my mental and physical health and enhance my immune system , especially having turned into the era of the 7 series , age-wise .
I do not want to think about age , as it is just a number . You are as young as you think . Some researchers did say that if you think you are 35 , you can continue to act like one .
It was that age where nothing stopped me from enhancing my career by believing in working hard and playing hard . It was the working environment then that pushed you to your limits .
Now that I have “ retired ” the last 10 years , one may slow down a bit but looking at friends who stopped completely from physical and mental activities , you realise you cannot afford to do that as many are suffering from one non communicable disease or other while some have left us .
As the pandemic and lockdowns continue to persist , I find no choice but to keep my physical activities going . Besides the almost daily ritual of cycling , which has become the rage worldwide and in Malaysia , I was dragged by my neighbour Cikgu Nik Anwar , a retired principal of the KL Sports School to help him work in his small farm in Hulu Yam . We had to clear the weeds and undergrowth that had grown since the lockdown prevented him from attending to the farm for around six months .
Again , we felt that the authorities should have allowed small businesses and farmers from working on their farms . It is food security . Farms in Cameron Highlands were also finding difficulty employing foreign workers .
As a result , production was reduced , leading to shortages and price increases for vegetables and chickens . Now even fish prices have also shot up . During World Soil Day on Dec 5 , 2021 , we were invited to Dr Ting Ho ’ s Back2Nature Farm in Kuala Pilah , which used age-old methods of natural manures and fertilisers to plant various plants and herbs without the use of chemicals or pesticides .
This is good for the health and sustainability of the soil . We were inspired to move into herbs and spice farming as these are plants that do not require too much care as they are hardy and are experiencing a growing market .
Poor management of the pandemic
Have a positive outlook for 2022
Whilst we strived to stay Covid negative in 2021 , there are signs the worst may be over , but we must continue to follow the SOPs and good hygiene
Moving on to pandemic management , many of us also felt that there were many weaknesses in managing this whole pandemic . While other governments like Japan , Uttar Pradesh , Delhi and Goa in India , and even Indonesia succeeded in reducing death and infections without closing down drastically their economic activities , we were still sticking to routines that have not shown much success .
Infections continue to be in four figures , and daily deaths continue to be in three figures for months . It was only in the last month that daily deaths
have been around 30 to 40 .
In those countries mentioned , one of the key drugs used in the treatment protocol was Ivermectin , which was dismissed summarily by the Ministry of Health ( MoH ). As a case in point , when Japan started to introduce Ivermectin on Aug 13 , 2021 , the infection and death rates plummeted two weeks after that . This trend has continued to this day which gave many governments and health authorities to consider its usage as part of the protocol .
On Dec 31 , 2021 , the Malaysian Alliance for Effective Covid Control
ADI SATRIA , a veteran Marcom executive , sees the new year with cautious optimism . With social media and the information superhighway , one has to keep increasing information and knowledge and not just depend on information from the authorities . The digital platform has empowered us to seek and benefit from alternative information we can and should use .
( MAECC ) issued a media release that they were correct in arguing that if Ivermectin was mass distributed as prophylaxis and early treatment , the infection and mortality rate would have been reduced , and the epidemic brought to a quick halt . They referred to a just-published large scale scientific study conducted in Brazil from July to December 2021 , which confirmed MAECC ’ s argument .
Even the MoH sponsored Ivermectin study — Ivermectin Treatment Efficacy in High-Risk Patients ( I-TECH ) conducted from June to September 2021 showed a reduction in the mortality rate in the Ivermectin group .
The statement was signed by the MAECC secretariat and co-signed by representatives of SAHAMM ( Society for Advancement of Hormones and Healthy Aging Medicines Malaysia ), MAAFIM ( Malaysian Association for the Advancement of Functional and Interdisciplinary Medicine ), MSCM ( Malaysian Society of Complementary Medicine ), SNH ( Society of Natural Health Malaysia ), NMAM ( Naturopathic Medical Association Malaysia ) and PPIM ( Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia .
Floods caused new miseries
These are highly qualified professionals in their fields of medicine and healthcare and consumer rights activists who know what they are talking about . We will certainly know about the outcome of these results and activities in the coming weeks .
People turned to the internet to understand the situation . There are many reports about the truth of the vaccines ’ efficacy , or the lack of it . They are now circulating convincing evidence of how these countries managed the situation . They have recommended boosters when a couple or more countries have proven that these are not as effective .
The new Omicron variant was touted to be increasing the infection rate , but some good news has also come out of this . The number of deaths has reduced . Statistics in South Africa , where the scientists first discovered it showed that the mortality rates have come down .
Some key scientists and researchers seem to suggest that this new variant is “ God-sent ” as the virus is weaker in causing deaths . More test results will be required before a firm conclusion can be made .
As the economy was opening up , the devastating floods that hit the country at the end of 2021 and January 2022 have caused new miseries to many the country . There were glaring flaws in disaster management by the authorities .
Yet in all this , the rakyat rose to the occasion , and the # rakyatjagarakyat became the new hashtag . That to me , was inspiring .
Working in the small farm with Cikgu Nik is the real dosage I need to enhance my physical and mental health . After all , living beyond the age of 70 , we belong to the eight per cent of those in the world who made it .
While practising good hygiene and following the SOP ’ s , we will have a positive attitude that the worst may be over , and a new dawn is breaking . Welcome , 2022 . — The Health