Page 176 - MALAYSIA HEALTH SECTOR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FIELD

Mental health

Mental health issues have also seen a surge in cases as a consequence of the
COVID-19 pandemic. To address these mental health issues, IPH conducted
a study to determine the mental health status of hospitalised COVID-19
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patients in 2 referral hospitals in the Klang Valley, 1 COVID-19 designated
hospital in Johor, and 1 PKRC. This study revealed that 7.5% of the
respondents had depression, 7% anxiety, and 4% with suicidal ideations.
These findings have emphasised the importance of psychological care during
a pandemic, which is hoped to aid the strategic planning in improving the
existing plan of actions in managing mental health issues with regards to
the current pandemic. Having a mental health surveillance system in place
will help identify probable cases of depression and anxiety, which can then
be managed timely and appropriately by the psychiatry team.

Protecting HCWs

Battling the pandemic daily, HCWs have a higher risk of contracting the
COVID-19 infection since they manage and handle suspected and confirmed
COVID-19 patients. To explore the true prevalence of COVID-19 infections
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among HCWs, a serology surveillance study of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies
among asymptomatic HCWS from designated COVID-19 healthcare facilities
in Malaysia was conducted by ICR. The findings revealed a low risk of
asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in these healthcare settings, which is at
expected levels for a country with an incidence of 26 per 100,000. In
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another study by IMR, determining the presence of the viable virus and its
persistence on the surfaces of fomites in wards treating COVID-19 patients
in Malaysia, the study findings showed that the environmental
contamination of SARS-CoV-2 was low in the hospital setting, suggesting that
adhering to the hospitals’ strict infection control procedures and the
compliance of patients to wearing masks can reduce the occupational risk
of exposure to COVID-19 in hospital settings.

140 EVIDENCE-BASED RESPONSES TO THE THIRD COVID-19 WAVE IN MALAYSIA
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