Exclusif, Covid-19 Conspiration, Daeng M. Faqih: Les Médecins N’entrent Pas Dans Le Royaume

It has been almost two years since the coronavirus disease 2019 or commonly abbreviated as COVID-19 has spread and has left many people lying helpless and many who have lost their lives. Various conspiracy theories have emerged behind this COVID-19. However, the General Chair of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) dr. Daeng M. Faqih, SH, MH, firmly said that doctors do not want to enter into that realm. Their focus is on preventing and curing people exposed to this virus. He shared his experience with the VOI team in dealing with the corona pandemic.

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It is undeniable that COVID-19 has changed the world order. Various sectors of life ranging from health, economy, tourism, transportation, and so on are affected. Many companies have been forced to close due to the impact of this pandemic. Another impact of slowing economic growth, there were mass layoffs occurred in various companies spread across the world. The impact of COVID-19 is so devastating.

Ironically, even though there is so much evidence on how powerful this virus attack is, there are still people who don't believe in the existence of COVID-19. They are not only from the lay community but also from the educated circles and have even been educated at the medical faculty. This is what is unfortunate by dr. Daeng Mohammad Faqih, S, H., MH “This virus really exists even though it cannot be seen by the naked eye. Like the previous viruses, they are physically very small, so it can't be seen if you don't use a tool. But he is. The proof is that so many people have been exposed, so many people have lost their lives. However, there are also many who have recovered from this virus," he explained.

In addition, there are also conspiracy theories about COVID-19. At the beginning of the pandemic the question arose as to whether this virus was artificial or did it arise naturally. There are also allegations that this virus was created by certain countries with the aim of destroying other countries. There is another theory that has emerged that this virus was deliberately created by pharmaceutical companies with the aim of making vaccines that can be marketed after the pandemic outbreak. Economic motives are suspected to be behind the emergence of this virus. And there are many other unique theories that many people believe in.

When asked about the conspiracy theory that accompanies the emergence of COVID-19, Daeng did not want to enter that realm. “As health workers, we do not enter into that realm. Our focus is on preventing and curing people who have been exposed. Prevention by encouraging everyone to follow strict health protocols. Then follow the vaccinations that are now being promoted by the government and treatment is carried out for those who have been exposed," he said.

Until this news was uploaded (last update August 1), based on official data from the COVID-19 Task Force, globally this virus has spread to 223 countries. The number of people who were confirmed was 196,553,009, while those who died were 4,200,412. Meanwhile, for Indonesia, there were 3,440,396 confirmed positives. Of that number, 2,809,538 people were reported to have recovered. And those who died were 95,723 people.

Daeng is optimistic that the spread of COVID-19 can be minimized if all parties comply with the health protocols; use masks, wash hands (with soap) regularly, maintain distance, stay away from crowds and reduce mobility. This step can prevent the transmission and spread of COVID-19. To Iqbal Irsyad and Edy Suherli from VOI.ID, who interviewed him online recently, Daeng M. Faqih talked a lot about handling and preventing COVID-19. Here is the full excerpt.

How do you see the phenomenon of the COVID-19 pandemic which has hit Indonesia and the world for almost two years?

What we all need to be aware of, until a year after this virus outbreak in Indonesia, there has not been a ramp as expected. This means that the threat from this virus is still there and there is even a tendency to get bigger. If it is said that there will be a second wave, it is possible that the delta variant will emerge. In conditions like this, we must not be careless because the current incident is extraordinary, health protocols must still be implemented. Some time ago we were caught off guard by neglecting to do prokes.

Do you think COVID-19 is natural or man-made?

At the beginning of the pandemic the question arose whether this virus was natural or man-made or there was some other conspiracy. Frankly, we are medical people, don't question and don't try to answer. The dimensions are already political issues, economic competition and others. We do not enter into that realm, we enter only on health matters. That this virus really exists, whether it's a conspiracy or not, this virus is natural or artificial, in reality this virus exists if it is examined in a laboratory. Millions of people have been affected, thousands have died. Once again we are not concerned whether this virus is natural or artificial, whether this virus is the result of a conspiracy or not. We want to tell the public the fact that this virus exists and is dangerous, that's all the public must understand.

If you ask about it because it's invisible, I think the average micro-organism is invisible. Who can see the TB germs? there is not any. It can only be seen with sophisticated medical equipment. All viruses are very small in size. If the corona virus is questioned because it is invisible, it means denying the knowledge that we have received so far.

There is a fact that behind this COVID-19 there is a pharmaceutical business that has a very large value, this is why some think that all of this is a conspiracy, how do you see it?

For every disease or germ, the government tries to find a cure. See first how much money is spent to buy the BCG vaccine, treat TB drugs, meningitis vaccines for pilgrims and so on. The government does spend a lot of money. But that's not necessarily a conspiracy. That from this situation people are fighting for market potential because they can produce drugs or vaccines is another thing. We health people think that this bacteria or virus must be overcome, whether with drugs, vaccines or with something else.

What do you see about the Nusantara vaccine?

We support local vaccine innovations such as the Nusantara vaccine, the Red and White vaccine and so on. We encourage domestic innovation to be independent. The issue of the Nusantara vaccine is not a question of innovation, but a matter of procedures that are not carried out in a standard way. For the Red and White vaccine, because it was reported that the procedure had been adjusted to the standard procedure, there was never any protest. We ask the government to encourage and facilitate the innovation of this nation's children. We can take lessons from this pandemic, if the world of our health industry is not independent. Many medical equipment and medicines are dependent on other countries. During a pandemic where the country also needs it, supplies for us are hampered. Now we have to support the production of medical devices and medicines in the country, after the domestic needs are met, if you want to export, please go ahead.

Because of this corona pandemic we lack doctors and other health workers, what do you think about the acceleration of graduating medical students or health virgins?

Now this is an emergency, we can't use our normal way of thinking. Not only us, in America also accelerated graduation of medical students. We have conveyed to all specialist doctors or not, we must be prepared to become personnel who will help and treat COVID-19 patients. Because now the number is crowded, we can't just charge it to a pulmonary doctor, an internal medicine doctor. We have already launched the universal doctor movement. All of our doctors have the authority to treat patients. Of course, through training beforehand. If asked who knows more about this disease? This disease is new no one knows better, so all doctors also know about it.

What kind of tele-medicine do you see?

At the beginning of the pandemic we issued instructions to doctors to reduce face-to-face contact with patients, unless it was absolutely essential. The solution is tele-medicine or virtual remote consultation. Several health applications based on Android and IOS also provide consulting services. Please people take advantage of this, don't get hung up on meeting doctors directly.

Actually, what is the ratio of doctors in Indonesia like, in normal what is the ideal?

If this pandemic period actually can't be one more than 1 in 5, it can already be said to be optimal. Yes, but if isoman one in 10 is still okay. Now we are 1 in 1,500. The comparison depends on the inflation in an area, if the inflation rate in Indonesia is still one in 5,000 because BPJS Kesehatan in Indonesia applies one doctor to care for 5,000 patients.

The choice is now massive vaccination or are there other options?

What needs to be done besides vaccination are health protocols, wearing masks, washing hands with soap, not crowding, and keeping a distance. There is also a need for protocols to modify the environment, objects must be sterilized, the air must be cleaned so as not to create new clusters in the office. Our bodies must have immunity, either with vaccines that are formed by vaccination or with vitamins and empon-empon or herbs provided there is information from BPOM yes. The more the public has immunity, the better. We are increasingly protected from COVID-19 because herd immunity has been formed. All vaccines recommended by the government are good, and have sufficient potency. Able to provide immunity than those who do not get the vaccine.

Even though he has studied at the Sepuluh November Institute of Technology, Surabaya, dr. Daeng M. Faqih, SH, MH, finally relented. A year studying in the Department of Chemistry, he resigned. Even though it is not an easy matter to enter and study at this prestigious campus. Daeng was accepted through the Interest and Ability Tracking (PMDK) in 1988. After resigning, he enrolled again at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya Malang.

All because there was a will from his father before leaving for good. His late father wanted Daeng to become a doctor. After the father left his mother also wanted the same thing. In particular his mother conveyed his father's message and his request to study at the Faculty of Medicine.

Even though it was not what he wanted from the bottom of his heart, he obediently and devotedly obeyed his parents' wishes. he willingly obeyed his parents' wishes. Even though Daeng had made love to become an expert in the nuclear field.

As a child, Daeng seemed to understand that he had to be devoted to his parents who had given birth and raised him. Moreover, the wishes of his parents are not beyond his control. His parents wanted Daeng to become a doctor. “My parents wanted one of their children to become a doctor. That's why my mother asked me to study medicine,” said the fourth of seven children.

In 1989, Daeng registered on the Selection Committee for New Student Admissions. Majors are chosen according to the wishes of their parents. After going through the selection process, the man who was born in Pamekasan, Madura, East Java, June 30, 1969, was declared a graduate at the Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang. "Alhamdulillah, I managed to graduate from the Faculty of Medicine at Brawijaya University, Malang," he said.

Although it's not that he didn't go to college based on his dreams, it doesn't mean that Daeng is just playing around. He seriously followed the college process until he finally got a degree as a doctor. He followed a long road to finish studying at the Faculty of Medicine and he was appointed as a doctor.

Furthermore, his activities dwell in the world of health. He became a doctor in a hospital, opened a practice and other intricacies in the world of medicine.

Since he was young, Daeng has liked to organize. So when he was a student he was not only studying, he was also active in the world of student organizations. He is listed as a member of the Islamic Student Association (HMI). In addition, he is also active in the Islamic Student Health Institute (LKMI). Unmitigated in this organization he succeeded in becoming the Chairman of the LKMI National Coordinating Board for the 1997-1999 period. His passion for organization never subsided until he became a doctor and until now serves as the General Chair of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) for the 2018-2021 period.

Daeng is also listed as active in the Indonesian Hospital Agency organization for the 2014-2017 period. Daeng was part of the Central Cost Control Quality Control Team and the Hospital Accreditation Commission's Board of Trustees. At that time he found many legal problems experienced by the hospital. This is also the reason why he continued his studies in law. Daeng took another course in law and earned his Master of Law degree at Hasanuddin University, Makassar in 2011.

Although studying also in the field of law Daeng refuses to be said to have turned away from the medical world. The proof is that he is still practicing and organizing in the medical world. For him the medical profession has been attached to him. The matter of legal knowledge that he pursues even up to the S2 level, is an additional knowledge that complements his scientific treasures. And his knowledge of law is very useful when medical problems intersect with legal cases and cases.

One of the last interesting issues in the medical world is the emergence of dr. Lois Owien, who openly admitted that he did not believe in the existence of the COVID-19 virus which had spread throughout the world and even the world was declared a corona pandemic. Even though there have been many souls who have died and are unable to get the COVID-19 attack.

“Actually, as an organization, we from IDI no longer have any obligation to handle this issue. Because the person concerned is no longer a member of IDI. In the past, he was registered as a member. But he did not renew his membership. However, because this issue received the attention of many parties, IDI finally called for clarification. Before he could answer the call the police had already made a call. We'll just have to wait and see how the legal process will take place on Dr. Lois who is suspected of spreading hoaxes or fake news through social media," said dr. Daeng M. Faqih, SH, MH

“Right now it's an emergency, we can't use our normal way of thinking. Not only us, in America also accelerated graduation of medical students. We have conveyed to all specialist doctors or not, we must be prepared to become personnel who will help and treat COVID-19 patients."

dr. Daeng M. Faqih, SH, MH