Of Mosquitoes & MOs

Apart from beginning with 'm-o-s', these two have something else in common - they can both be very irksome.

Anybody who has been outfield would know that mosquitoes are a soldier's biggest enemies. They come in droves (esp. in the cover of night), bite you all over the body, limbs and worse still your face (pray not the eyelids and lips), then merrily make their escape as it is near impossible to smack them in the darkness. The acute and pervasive itch, as well as incessant buzzing at the back of your ears are enough to deprive even the most exhausted of much-needed sleep.

This has prompted me to ponder the ecological role of mosquitoes. If this role is merely redundant and at best a nuisance, why has no effort been made to exterminate them? I am sure not only humans, but many animals, esp. those without hands (imagine not being able to smack or scratch!), would be grateful as well. But of course, I know it's impossible, since they have been around since prehistoric times and if what killed the dinos couldn't kill them, there is nothing much we can do, except to "spam" (as my sergeant puts it) insect repellant.

Some MOs (medical officers) can be equally annoying. Actually, this applies to doctors in general when they see NSFs. They tend to have the preconception that we are just trying to chaogeng (malinger), and dismiss even genuine cases. It is extremely difficult to get MCs as an NSF unless you've got a fever, and some of them don't even attempt to conceal their discriminatory tone and attitude ("why didn't you report earlier? you look fine what, you sure you sick? ask your MO if you need MC"), as if NSFs deserve less care and attention. So much for giving two years of our lives to the nation.

This is probably not a revelation for most, as not so long ago, there was a big hoohah over an NSF who died of a flesh-eating virus which was not discovered earlier because the doctor (allegedly) dismissed him as a malingerer. I am not in the least surprised, and I am pretty sure many NSFs would have had similar experiences. I do concede that there are many rotten apples who "spoil the market", but this does not mean that ALL of us should be penalised and regarded as such without proper assessment.

Of course, there are still many good doctors around, and I respect them for their professionalism in regarding all patients as equals. For those who (blatantly) discriminate against NSFs, it just shows that they have failed to live up to their ethical pledge and professional obligations. Maybe they have forgotten that all NSFs become civilians one day and they should and will be sorry, because they can count on me to discount them as worthy doctors even when I regain my civilian status.