Fung Jing Yee is a dietitian at one of the major hospitals handling CoVID-19 patients in Sabah. She says, “In the midst of the sudden influx of cases, there were times when self-doubting thoughts and powerlessness crept in. Recalling the words of my mentor Daisaku Ikeda, ‘It’s important to have the courage to ask yourself what it is that you should be doing now, at this very moment’, I pondered hard and resolved to be a competent backliner, supporting the doctors who were treating the Covid-19 patients.”

Jing Yee quickly read up on nutritional guidelines in managing CoVID-19 patients while being mindful of those with comorbidities (diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney diseases and so on) who are more vulnerable to this virus. Jing Yee and her colleagues provided nutritional counselling after assessing the patients’ eating and lifestyle habits and customised plans based on the patients’ lifestyle and medical condition.

In dealing with Covid-19 patients, Jing Yee would often have to communicate with the patients via their doctors or by phone as she and her colleagues were not allowed to enter their rooms. Besides that, Jing Yee and her colleagues made and distributed reading materials on nutrition to the CoVID-19 ward. She wanted them to be aware of making healthy eating habits so that they could strengthen their bodies’ immune system to better fight the disease and recover more quickly.

When dealing with patients or their family members, Jing Yee says the voice plays an important role in encouraging others, more so when meeting face to face is not possible. The tone of our voice and the choice of words are extremely important. As SGI President Ikeda says,

“The voice has tremendous power.
The resonance of our voices is what imparts courage to others
A single word of trust
A single word of encouragement
A single word of conviction
At the crucial moment
Can become a power source
That creates strength and momentum
In the lives of all.”

Source: SGM Facebook, 2020