By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Mar 27: An Innovation hub in Sarawak is now producing face shields for medical personnel while various departments are pooling their efforts together to increase Covid-19 testing capacity.
This was disclosed by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian on his social media page today.
He revealed that the Digital Economy Hub which has 20 three dimensional (3D) printers is now producing 300 face shields per day for the use of medical personnel.
“I had checked and (the face shields) can be used by my medical colleagues,” said Dr Sim, who expressed pride that such innovation not only happened in New York but also in Sarawak.
Dr Sim who is Batu Kawa assemblyman said he was proud of the generosity and ingenuity of Sarawakians who are willing to step up and step forward to find ways to help Sarawak in time of crisis to fight Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim also pointed out that in order to increase the speed and capacity of Covid-19 testing throughout Sarawak, he pulled in all existing facilities from non-medical departments such as Sarawak Forestry Department, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre and Clinical Research Centre (CRC) to make it happen.
He said with donation and the pulling in of equipment from research centres such as CRC’s two RT PCR (Real-time polymerase chain reaction) machines to test for Covid-19, Sarawak could start PCR testing in Sibu and Miri.
“We will soon also have PCR (point of care 45 minute test) just announced by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US, as we happen to have this PCR equipment as a result of participating in international research,” said Dr Sim.
Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and Unimas Hospital (Unimas) presently are the two institutions equipped to conduct PCR (polymerase chain reaction) Covid-19 testings.
“Truly ask not what the country can do for you but what you can do for your country. I am very proud to be a Sarawakian,” said Dr Sim. — DayakDaily
