Dr Wu Lien-Teh is Chi Hoe Tang's third great-uncle.

 

By the time I was informed of my family connection to Dr Wu Lien Teh, I was already enrolled in the Penang International Dental College to study dentistry. Despite not being the catalyst that led me to my current path towards becoming a dental surgeon, the knowledge of his achievements nevertheless serves as a great inspiration. His contributions to the field of medicine inspire in me a greater personal commitment to my chosen field of dentistry in the hope of leaving an equally indelible mark on society.

There has been increasing public awareness of Dr Wu's achievements in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, principally his role in combating the Manchurian plague and his development of a surgical mask that was the precursor of the N95 mask. The measures he took to combat the Manchurian plague in 1910 such as promoting quarantine and the wearing of face masks can be seen in Malaysia today. Director-General of Health Malaysia Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and all of our frontliners deserve full credit for ably containing the COVID-19 outbreak. Although the war is far from being won, the perseverance and practice of good healthcare policy in the spirit of Dr Wu are undoubtedly a great comfort to Malaysians in these difficult times.

 

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