Some people ask how we Buddies get to know of people living with HIV, to whom we offer our support service. Do we wait for the PLWHAs to contact us through the pamphlets that we distribute? No, we don’t get many clients if we were just to wait for the PLWHAs to contact us.
Most of the clients we have were referred to us by the ID clinic of Ipoh GH. You would have read my postings about our clinic duties. So, we need to have a good rapport with the ID clinic staff – both doctors and nurses. I even have SN’s personal hand phone number stored in my hand phone, and she, mine.
Other than the ID clinic staff, we must also have good contact with the doctor is charge at the paediatric unit. You see, HIV infected children go to the paediatric clinic, not the ID clinic. Previously we had very good relationship with the doctor in charge, Dr. J. Whenever he felt any of the children needed any help, he’d call us personally to refer the case to us. And he didn’t mind either that sometimes we’d call him outside office hours to consult him on certain matters. But Dr. J got a promotion and was transferred to another state.
So, another doctor, Dr. C, took over his place. This lady doctor was briefed about us and a list of phone numbers were given to her by the previous doctor. However, she had not been personally introduced to us.
About 2 weeks ago, Dr. C tried to call us wanting to meet anyone of us. First she tried our center number. We don’t have anyone manning the center full time as all our volunteers have other jobs to do. So her calls went unanswered of course. Why have the phone when there’s no one there you may ask? Well, the fax machine is on all the time so we can receive faxes anytime (except when the machine runs out of paper of course).
Then she tried the number of one of my colleagues whose number appears on all the pamphlets. Oh the doctor did manage to get hold of her, but wrong timing. My colleague was then holidaying in China! So my colleague gave Dr. C the number of another senior volunteer whose number was the only one she memorized in her head, although the volunteer is no longer in the Board. This volunteer did agree to fix an appointment with Dr. C, but since he’s no longer in the Board, he thought it would be better if I myself could meet up with the doctor.
And the appointment was yesterday at 11.30 am. Knowing how difficult it was to get a parking space at the hospital, I went quite early. To my surprise, without even having to go one whole round around the hospital, I got myself a nice parking spot right beside the specialist clinic. Woohoo! Lucky me! Or so I thought…
Due to the ease of getting a parking space, I was 10 minutes early for the appointment. I went to the paediatric clinic, asked for the doctor and waited for a while. Then the nurse came out, and told me that although Dr. C did come earlier in the morning, she had gone home as she was not well and was on MC. Hearing that she was on MC, I didn’t bother to wait any longer.
So off I went. I was just about to stop by a pharmacy to buy something for my cough when my colleague (who had earlier arranged for the appointment) called me up and told me that the doctor just called him. Apparently, right after I left, the doctor was back at the clinic. Although she was on MC, she went back to the clinic because of the appointment. Since I was not that far off from the hospital, I decided to go back. This time however I was not so lucky to get a parking space so near to the clinic. But it was not too bad because it was nearing 12 noon and some of those who came for their appointments had already left and so finding a parking space was not so much of a nightmare.
Finally I managed to meet Dr. C. She had actually wanted to know more of what we do and what kind of cases she could refer to us… what sort of help we could offer… etc.
It was a good chat. I took the opportunity to ask about the infected children she sees at her clinic. There are 14 or 15 infected children who regularly go for their appointments at the paediatric clinic. There are a few others who sometimes skip their appointments (their parents doing of course, what would the kids know!) and a few who never turned up after the first one despite being confirmed HIV positive.
We have tried visiting some of the infected families at home to coax them to bring their children for check ups at the hospital but they’d always come up with all sorts of excuses. Or they’d say okay when we see them but when the time came they still didn’t bother to bring their children for appointments. I sometimes get quite mad with these people… if they are not bothered about their own health, it’s their business – but at least give their children a chance! Just because of the parent’s denial syndrome, the kids have to suffer? It’s not fair, is it?
Or is it just us who are not doing a good job at convincing the parents to get out of their denial? Sigh…
Most of the clients we have were referred to us by the ID clinic of Ipoh GH. You would have read my postings about our clinic duties. So, we need to have a good rapport with the ID clinic staff – both doctors and nurses. I even have SN’s personal hand phone number stored in my hand phone, and she, mine.
Other than the ID clinic staff, we must also have good contact with the doctor is charge at the paediatric unit. You see, HIV infected children go to the paediatric clinic, not the ID clinic. Previously we had very good relationship with the doctor in charge, Dr. J. Whenever he felt any of the children needed any help, he’d call us personally to refer the case to us. And he didn’t mind either that sometimes we’d call him outside office hours to consult him on certain matters. But Dr. J got a promotion and was transferred to another state.
So, another doctor, Dr. C, took over his place. This lady doctor was briefed about us and a list of phone numbers were given to her by the previous doctor. However, she had not been personally introduced to us.
About 2 weeks ago, Dr. C tried to call us wanting to meet anyone of us. First she tried our center number. We don’t have anyone manning the center full time as all our volunteers have other jobs to do. So her calls went unanswered of course. Why have the phone when there’s no one there you may ask? Well, the fax machine is on all the time so we can receive faxes anytime (except when the machine runs out of paper of course).
Then she tried the number of one of my colleagues whose number appears on all the pamphlets. Oh the doctor did manage to get hold of her, but wrong timing. My colleague was then holidaying in China! So my colleague gave Dr. C the number of another senior volunteer whose number was the only one she memorized in her head, although the volunteer is no longer in the Board. This volunteer did agree to fix an appointment with Dr. C, but since he’s no longer in the Board, he thought it would be better if I myself could meet up with the doctor.
And the appointment was yesterday at 11.30 am. Knowing how difficult it was to get a parking space at the hospital, I went quite early. To my surprise, without even having to go one whole round around the hospital, I got myself a nice parking spot right beside the specialist clinic. Woohoo! Lucky me! Or so I thought…
Due to the ease of getting a parking space, I was 10 minutes early for the appointment. I went to the paediatric clinic, asked for the doctor and waited for a while. Then the nurse came out, and told me that although Dr. C did come earlier in the morning, she had gone home as she was not well and was on MC. Hearing that she was on MC, I didn’t bother to wait any longer.
So off I went. I was just about to stop by a pharmacy to buy something for my cough when my colleague (who had earlier arranged for the appointment) called me up and told me that the doctor just called him. Apparently, right after I left, the doctor was back at the clinic. Although she was on MC, she went back to the clinic because of the appointment. Since I was not that far off from the hospital, I decided to go back. This time however I was not so lucky to get a parking space so near to the clinic. But it was not too bad because it was nearing 12 noon and some of those who came for their appointments had already left and so finding a parking space was not so much of a nightmare.
Finally I managed to meet Dr. C. She had actually wanted to know more of what we do and what kind of cases she could refer to us… what sort of help we could offer… etc.
It was a good chat. I took the opportunity to ask about the infected children she sees at her clinic. There are 14 or 15 infected children who regularly go for their appointments at the paediatric clinic. There are a few others who sometimes skip their appointments (their parents doing of course, what would the kids know!) and a few who never turned up after the first one despite being confirmed HIV positive.
We have tried visiting some of the infected families at home to coax them to bring their children for check ups at the hospital but they’d always come up with all sorts of excuses. Or they’d say okay when we see them but when the time came they still didn’t bother to bring their children for appointments. I sometimes get quite mad with these people… if they are not bothered about their own health, it’s their business – but at least give their children a chance! Just because of the parent’s denial syndrome, the kids have to suffer? It’s not fair, is it?
Or is it just us who are not doing a good job at convincing the parents to get out of their denial? Sigh…
8 comments:
guilty as charge!
when i was discharged from the hosp, i only went for follow-up twice. just being realistic, paralysis from damaging spine cannot be cured.
as for those infected kids, maybe they dont see any reason the need to go for their appointment bcos to their parents check-ups cant solve anything much. and i believe too they come from a not-so-well-to-do family background, they'd rather spend the money they have for something of immediate needs.
kira macam, they got their priority wrong la ni. sama je kes mcm spinal cord injury patient kak Pi.
Although for the time being there is still no cure for AIDS, we have to remember that without proper medication, those infected, especially children, can easily be infected with all sorts of opportunistic diseases. This will make them suffer even more. At least the ARV medication helps them to fight off those diseases. Those yang compliant with their medication and all can actually lead a normal life - the only difference is that they have to take their medication sepanjang hidup lah. Isn't it still better than letting them tanggung macam-macam penyakit?
Pi, can I get you answering machine? So people can leave their messages even when there is no one there to answer the phone? Let me know! Doug can bring one with him when he comes in August if one cannot be found here.
For one reason or another parents are either too dumb or too selfish to think about the health of their kids.
Again makes me want to shake them, and drum some sense into them! Don't give up lecturing them though. Kasian those kids.
Puteri,
I doubt an answering machine would be of much use. I've used one before but whenever people are asked to leave a message, they'd just put down the phone. That's why we give out our personal hand phone number instead. We did think about forwarding calls to a certain number instead, but then since we use the same number for our faxes, we decided not to lah.
And yes, some parents do seem to think it is better for them to buat tak tau rather than bring their kids to the hospitals. If I could shake them, I would!!
It was good the doctor even though on MC kept the appointment.
Yeah...sometimes do not know what the parents think.
But at least you and your team have adviced them and even reminded them on the urgency...the rest is up to them already...you all have done ur part.
As for Puteri's suggestion on answer machine....i think Malaysians still not use in talking into machine...:) i.e..."please leave msg after this beep".
Nightwing,
I've met some mothers who said they are simply too lazy to go to the hospital but they still go for the sake of their children. But then of course, there are always those who don't think that way.
As for the answering machine, I guess you're right, many Malaysians are still not used to "talking to a machine". :)
Helo pi bani!
Happy day
Hey David,
Thanks for dropping by. Have a great weekend!
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