The past one year has been a painful one for practically every nation as we struggle to keep the coronavirus at bay. At this time of writing the USA has the most number of active cases and the most number of deaths in the world followed by Brazil. In fact the world pandemic has caused over one million deaths worldwide.

In my area (Asia) Indonesia is the worst hit country with daily cases increasing followed by the Philippines. Singapore and Korea have seen the worst and especially in Singapore life is slowly coming back to normal there.

In my own country, Malaysia, unfortunately we had a third wave of COVID-19 infections due to the surge in cases in Sabah (which is part of East Malaysia) caused by the State Elections there. The SOP was not followed by the voters. We now have 20,000 cases and about 150 deaths up to date.We have MCO (Movement Control Order) whereby we have to follow strict standard operating procedures like social distancing and keeping a distance of at least one metre apart, wear mask in public and wash hands frequently. Only 2 persons can sit in a car. We are advised not to go out of our house unless it is necessary. In certain Red Areas in Sabah people are not allowed to leave their homes for fear of spreading or catching the virus.

Many types of business are suffering and had to shut down. Our Government is doing what it can to help the public especially the poor low income groups by various means like giving handouts and delaying in  payment of loans,etc.. Due to the Corona Pandemic we are unable to attend Church. So we have to rely on the VIRTUAL Sunday Mass whereby although we cannot consume the Host physically we can at least ask the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts!Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic we are not allowed to hold any meeting with more than 20 persons.

That is why we wish to inform our Brothers and Sisters from FIAMC and AFCMA that we have no choice but to postpone the 17th AFCMA Congress from 29th Oct 2020 to 1st Nov 2020 to 16th September 2021 till 19th September 2021. This has been agreed to by our Organising Committee and Dr. Manuel Po President of AFCMA. Our Congress is now called 17th AFCMA Congress 2021 Malaysia.

Please look at our updated AFCMA Congress website for full details at 

Home

The Congress Venue remains the same: ARMADA HOTEL, PETALING JAYA. MALAYSIA.

Moreover, here is an update on the Presidents  and Secretaries of some of our Member Countries in AFCMA:

St. Luke’s Guild of Sri Lanka: President- Dr. Anton Sebastiampillai <sam.anton@gmail.com>Secretary- Dr. Maithri Perera <drmithriperera@gmail.com>Spiritual Director- Rev. Father Chrispin Leo <frchrispin@gmail.com>

National Federation of Catholic Physicians Guild of Korea: President-Professor Seung-Kew Yoon (Stephano)<yoonsk@catholic.ac.kr>Secretary- Dr. In-Seok Lee (Marcello)<isle@catholic.ac.kr>

Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia, President, Dr. Juliet Mathew<drjuliem@hotmail.com>Secretary-Dr. Ashquin Dominic De Alex<ashdealex@gmail.com>

Thank you and hope to see some of you in Malaysia in September 2021 for the Physical 17th AFCMA Congress 2021 Malaysia. God Bless us all and protect us from the COVID 19 Virus! Amen.

In Jesus,Dr. Freddie Loh

Organising Chairman 17th AFCMA Congress

Chairman FIAMC Membership Committee.