When I signed up for a role in marketing with Pantai Hospital, the thought of one day being covered in PPE and managing test screening centres, amidst a global pandemic did not even remotely cross my mind. 

Being in the commercial sector of a hospital, my routine work usually involves client servicing, assistance patients on insurance related matters and other commercial roles. But COVID-19 has clearly shown that flexibility and adaptability is everything in the new normal, so when the time came for me to adapt, I just responded to what needed to be done. 

During the pandemic, at one point, the government made an announcement stating that for any construction work to resume, all workers will need to undergo COVID-19 tests. The load that hospitals would have to take if everyone came in for the rest would be unbelievable, so Pantai agreed to conduct bulk testing on the field for our commercial clients. 

Immediately I consulted our head of Emergency and together as a team to started to plan out, how we were going to bring the swab team on-site, manage sample collection and the people who were coming in to be tested. 

While I don’t have a medical background, I knew that my team needed my assistance from the management point of view. So, there I was, dressed in my PPEs, ready to step in and help out, where I could. 

What the overall experience did for me is that it has doubled my respect for all our healthcare workers. The efforts that our doctors and nurses have put in, from working longer hours to working in uncomfortable gear, is truly commendable. 

I have to say that our government and healthcare workers are doing an excellent job to contain the infection. But education in such situations is very important. We just need to keep educating the masses about wearing face masks, maintaining good personal hygiene and taking the necessary precautions. 

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