7 minute read
Intentional Living
from GEMWoman April 2020
Dr. Olamipo Bamigboje
It was an awkward few minutes, I had been waiting for my middle aged client to take her leave after we had addressed all that was on her long list.
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She was a prim and proper lady, this time wearing a face mask for the visit.
This is now the new look for most of my patients.
She had finished leading us, the few of us that came to church to organize the streaming for the online service, into the presence of God through an awesome session of praise & worship. Now, it was time for another to lead us in prayers before the message was preached. As she approached the front of the church, the praise leader offered her the microphone, she declined. I had thought it was because we were only a few people scattered around the auditorium in a bid to maintain the social distancing protocols, but I realized quickly I was wrong when I noticed the praise leader hurriedly go sanitize her hands.
All kinds of news (both false and true) about COVID-19 have been circulated. Generally though, this is a respiratory virus, spread through person to person contact (hence social distancing advised) and contact with virus contaminated surfaces (hence hand washing & hand sanitizing
advised along with sanitation of high touch traffic areas e.g. door knobs is recommended).
It is hard to differentiate COVID-19 infection from other respiratory virus infections (as they present with similar symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue and breathing difficulties) without testing (which may be limited in some countries). Also, a lot has been circulated about prevention but what about treatment, even in taking a stance like the 3 Hebrew children (Daniel 3: 17-18), that our God that we serve is able to deliver us, but should He decide otherwise, what are the necessary next steps? It all boils down to supportive treatment whether it be a mild or severe illness. Mild illnesses can be safely managed in the comfort of your home with liberal fluids to keep hydrated, antipyretics for fever along with adequate rest & healthy eating to help your body recuperate and build up its immunity. Severe illness characterized by high grade fever and or difficulty in breathing can be managed in the hospital with supportive treatments to help breathe and keep hydrated. (UpToDate, 2020) Being a physician in a developed country has availed to me the opportunity of experiencing health care at its peak having come from a developing country. It seemed as though death had been cheated in many instances I had come across as I usually compared if such instances had played out in developing countries- the fellow will most likely not live to tell the story. However, as the statistics relayed the numbers of death from COVID-19, I had to take a critical look at the numbers and realized for a fact that the current mortality rate declared by the World Health Organization as at March 3, 2020 is 3.4% meaning 96.6% of people infected get well. (https://www.worldometers.info/ coronavirus/). This mortality rate could be reassuring but on another hand should not take away our reliance in our Great God.
Being a christian doctor could be peculiar at times especially when it seems you need to draw a line between the two. As Christians what should be our stance in this time as we look into the bible, our ever sure guide. Ecclesiastes 1;19-11 tells us there is
nothing new under the sun. Plagues such as COVID-19 have happened in the past and even in bible times and they were handled with isolation and quarantine protocols. Leviticus 13:5 specifically talks about isolation for 14 days for communicable skin diseases- sounds familiar right. 1 Corinthians 10: 11 tells us these things were written as examples for us.
In bible times, the face of God was sought for help & deliverance even as medical measures were adhered to during times of plague. The essence of this is to encourage you even as Christians to get knowledgeable about the disease from reliable sources such as WHO/CDC. Hosea 4:6 says my people perish for lack of knowledge. So get enlightened, afterwards do not fret/panic but bring your requests to God with thanksgiving. Let it be a time to raise your voice as an intercessor and stand in the gap on behalf of our land- Ezekiel 22: 30. Let it be a time to spread the message of peace and not of panic. A time for a personal retreat and deeper fellowship with God. gw
Dr Olamipo Bamgboje holds a MB;BS; Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery, a MPH; Masters in Public Health, a LMCC; Licentiate Medical Council of Canada and a CCFP Certified; Specialist Family Physician and Rural Emergency.
Dr. Aleruchi Oleru
gw: What was your initial reaction to the outbreak of this pandemic?
I’m an internist practicing at a large hospital in Jackson, Tennessee where I have worked for about 15 years. When the news of COVID-19 started emerging from China last year, they were just like rumors. Between running around with three kids, managing my home and working full time, I did not pay much attention to it . But when it creeped into the states in March, it hit the nation with a bang.The medical community here was grappling to understand what exactly was going on and we began to wear layers of protective gear to see patients. The tension in the air was palpable, the fear in the eyes of colleagues and patients alike . It was as though for the first time it dawned on us as physicians that we had no solution. In addition to this, we are also very susceptible to the deadly virus. Thus began my new reality, what do I do? gw: How do you handle the fear and anxiety that can come with this situation?
As I noticed fear creeping into my heart, I prayed and the Lord gave me
this verse of scripture. ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.’ Psalm 56:3. It soothes me and delivers me from that spirit of fear. He also gave me clear direction to actively replace fear with trust. I can’t run away from my job to protect myself and my family. I firmly believe that for me to die is gain so I am resigned to serving God in my job like I always have. I have also been fervent in prayer and by God’s mercy we have had no deaths from COVID in my hospital to date and our positive cases are fast approaching a hundred (at the time of this interview).
gw: How has this pandemic affected your workload?
Of course we are being very careful and screening many of the sick.
The scope of my practice has also changed as social distancing has kept the sick from their loved ones and so I’m trying to bridge that gap for them. Patients definitely need a lot more compassionate care as they are unable to have any visitors. gw: What is your general outlook like in light of the global crisis?
In all, I am grateful that my community is not hard hit. Of course, there are all kinds of predictions but the church is praying and the medical facilities are preparing for the worst. I am most thankful for the confidence I have in God that enables me to work without fear and be an encouragement and comfort to others. gw
Dr. Aleruchi Oleru was born July 25, 1971 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She Attended medical school at the University of Port Harcourt and relocated to the United States in 1996.
She finished her internal medicine residency in 2001 and presently works as a hospitalist with the jackson clinic where she serves on the board of directors. She has been married to Chima, a nephrologist for 18 years and together they are raising 3 children, Ikenna (16), Ijeoma(14), Obinna(12), one of whom has special needs.
