JAKARTA: When Dr Handoko Gunawan took a look at his patients lung X-ray, he immediately suspected he was dealing with a COVID-19 case.
The X-ray image showed what he described as infiltration shadow with ground-glass opacity in both lungs, and the patient was battling a high fever, dry cough, low blood cell count and low lymphocyte count.
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However, the hospital Dr Gunawan worked for is not a referral hospital for COVID-19, so he could not carry out a swab test on the patient. Up until early March, the test could only be conducted at one laboratory in Jakarta for the whole country.
The 79-year-old lung specialist told the patient to get tested elsewhere, but the patient came back saying that two referral hospitals in Jakarta at that time were full, and that he was only classified as someone being “closely monitored” for COVID-19.
READ: Indonesians seek to get tested for COVID-19 as tally rises; govt says unnecessary to test everyone
Dr Gunawan continued to treat the patient without personal protective equipment (PPE).
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“I am a lung specialist. Thats my job,” he told CNA.
“I continued tending to the patient as much as I could. A stupid and careless act if you think about it – it is infectious. But he is a patient, and I continued to treat him,” he said.
Dr Handoko Gunawan said he believed he had treated patients whom he suspected had contracted COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of Dr Handoko Gunawan)
The patient later passed away, and Dr Gunawan could never prove that the patient indeed contracted the coronavirus.
He went on to handle several patients with similar symptoms. He suspected they too had been infected but was unable to test them for COVID-19 because of a lack of resources.
“COVID-19 patients dont have a sign on their foreheads that say COVID. We handle a patient, and after several tests, then we realised this is most likely COVID. But it could be too late already, we could have been infected,” he said.
READ: Concerns over Indonesia's apparent lack of coordination in releasing information on first COVID-19 death
When COVID-19 cases first emerged in Indonesia, hospitals were not aware that all patients should be screened upon arrival at the emergency rooms, hence paramedics were not equipped with PPE, Dr Gunawan said.
“At that time it was hard for hospitals to imagine that paramedics need to wear a hazmat suit of 1 million rupiah (US$61) only for one usage,” he said, adding that the procedure now is for every healthcare provider in the emergency room to don PPE.
As of Wednesday (Apr 1), Indonesia reported a total of 1,677 cases, with 157 deaths.
“IM NOT A HERO”
Dr Gunawan said he only wore the hazmat suit once when handling a COVID-19 suspect patient.
A picture of him in the suit went viral online, with people hailing him as a hero who threw himself into the frontline despite his age.
He refused to be called one.
“Oh, no, Im not a hero. The heroes are those doctors and paramedics who have passed away during the pandemic.
“The heroes are the nurses who are still tending to patients while crying (out of fear) but because they took an oath before they entered this profession, they continued carrying out their duties,” he said.
“Im just a cheerleader,” he added.
Firefighters spray disinfectant using high pressure pump truck to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on the main road in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 31, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
Dr Gunawans family had told him not to treat COVID-19 suspect patients as he might get infected.
“They were worried. They knew there was a high risk but I was sworn in as a doctor. I dont want to put aside my oath just like that.”
Dr Gunawan has four children and five grandchildren, the youngest of whom is in elementary school.
“I said: Lets just leave everything to God. If God gives me health, we can unite again one day. But if not, then thats life.”
READ: From athletes village to hotel, Indonesian government prepares makeshift facilities for COVID-19
He said all doctors and paramedics are serving patients despite the high risks – some are even not protected with the right gear – simply because they have to do their job.
“Several nurses shivered with fear when they had to visit patients suspected of having COVID-19,” said Dr Gunawan, who works for three private hospitals in Jakarta.
“They told me: But doctor, Ive got children. Then they surrendered themselves to God.”
DOCTOR TURNED COVID-19 SUSPECT
One day in mid-March, Dr Gunawan felt unwell. He was immediately taken to a COVID-19 referral hospital in Jakarta and was admitted into an isolation room.
“I was a COVID-19 suspect,” he said. “I was coughing, had high fever and difficulties breathing. I felt nauseated and vomited.”
He was treated for COVID-19 and was prescribed various medications from bird flu to malaria medicines, he said.
Dr Handoko Gunawan was treated as a COVID-19 suspect patient for eight days in a Jakarta hospital. (Photo courtesy of Dr Handoko Gunawan)
During his eight days in the hospital, swab tests were conducted on him every two days. An X-ray scan was performed every day, so was a blood test.
“It was unpleasant,” he said.
Dr Gunawan had to share the isolation ward with another patient, a doctRead More – Source
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