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OUR PEOPLE,<br />
OUR MISSION<br />
Global Health<br />
<strong>eMagazine</strong><br />
<strong>March</strong> 2022<br />
How Life Has Been in the World of a Pandemic:<br />
Dispatch from Thailand<br />
Written by Atthayaporn Choomai, MD<br />
Walailak University School of Medicine, Thailand<br />
Since the COVID-19 outbreak in December 2019, daily life<br />
underwent significant change. Despite coming after the<br />
outbreaks in China, the U.S., and Europe, it has been very<br />
damaging. It brought our economy to a standstill and ultimate<br />
collapse while putting our healthcare system under severe strain.<br />
People suffered due to the lack of effective vaccines, policies for<br />
controlling the spread of disease, and facts about COVID-19.<br />
In May 2020, Thailand was in crisis. The disease overwhelmed us. People died at home in our<br />
capital Bangkok without knowing the cause of illness until after they died. Announcements were<br />
made to welcome city-dwellers back to their hometowns if they needed any healthcare provision,<br />
as the hospital situation in Bangkok had collapsed. Our hospital in Thasala received many more<br />
COVID-19 patients as a result, including from other provinces.<br />
Sadly, we lost hundreds of patients to COVID-19 during this time. Healthcare providers were<br />
overworked and exhausted. It took a heavy toll on us. Even non-COVID-19 infected patients had<br />
problems because of the strain on our hospital.<br />
A Note from Dr. Sadigh<br />
Reflections on 2021<br />
Highlights<br />
Nowadays, things have improved. Our immunization rate is close to 80%. In Thasala Hospital, cases<br />
have decreased despite the appearance of the Omicron variant.<br />
Things are slowly improving, including the economy. I believe we can weather this storm. We look<br />
forward to the prospect of welcoming tourists and global health colleagues from around the world<br />
to explore the beautiful landscape and culture of Thailand.<br />
Nursing Division<br />
SARS COV-2 Pandemic<br />
and Us<br />
Unification<br />
Condolences: Paul Farmer<br />
Art to Remind Us of<br />
Who We Can Be<br />
Articles of the Month<br />
Videos of the Month<br />
Announcements<br />
Calendar<br />
Resources<br />
Quellon, Chile (Elina Mukhametshina)<br />
7<br />
Reflections continued on next page >>
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