By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 5: A mobile cabin equipped with air conditioning will be put up at the Semera Lot health clinic in Asajaya, which was built in 1978 and today categorised as one of the most dilapidated clinics in Sarawak, to temporary accommodate a postnatal care ward.
Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced this as among the urgent actions to be taken to improve some of the healthcare facilities in Sarawak during his visit to the State today.
“We agree to provide a cabin unit as a temporary measure while we wait to apply for the building of a new clinic.
“One of the buildings used for postnatal care is no longer safe for use as verified by JKR (Public Works Department).
“So I have approved the allocation for a cabin equipped with air conditioning to be installed at the clinic to provide comfort to patients and so that the postnatal care services will not be disrupted,” he told a press conference at Simunjan Hospital today.
Earlier today, Khairy and a delegation from the Ministry of Health (MOH) visited three clinics under the Batang Sadong constituency; Semera Lot Clinic, Sadong Jaya Clinic and Simunjan Hospital.
He also immediately approved requests by the Semera Lot clinic for an ambulance vehicle and ultrasound machine.
As for Sadong Jaya health clinic, Khairy pointed out that there is a request to upgrade its facilities, especially the emergency room (ER), which is no longer sufficient to meet the overflow of patients who were forced to wait outside under the roof awning and canvas tent.
“It is not enough to accommodate the increasing number of daily patients. So we have approved the upgrading works of the ER and the stairway, which is quite old, and other necessities.
“But in the long-term, we are planning to build a new clinic,” he said.
Noting that the clinic also faces frequent electricity interruptions, which will affect medicine storage, Khairy also immediately approved generator sets to ensure that the clinic has a backup power supply during blackouts.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Batang Sadong MP Dato Sri Nancy Shukri; and Simunjan assemblyman Awla Dris were present. — DayakDaily
