SIBU, Sept 27: The setting up of modular beds at Sibu Hospital is to prepare for any eventuality including to accommodate increasing numbers of Covid-19 patients.
Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee coordinator Dr Annuar Rapaee told reporters when visiting the Sibu Civic Centre Covid-19 vaccination centre (PPV) which has been tasked with vaccinating 3,000 Primary Six and Form 1 students that though the division recorded very low numbers of Category 3 to 5 Covid-19 cases, there was also the need to prepare extra beds.
“If there are not enough beds, people might have to wait. We don’t want that to happen. People might want to ask why do we need to increase the beds when our Category Three to Five cases are at minimum level. We are actually preparing for the worst. We are increasing the capacity of the hospital and ICU beds as we need to plan to avoid this kind of situation,” he explained.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin at a press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Kuching yesterday said that his ministry had set up 10 modular beds at Sibu Hospital.
Khairy had also said a new field hospital will be set up in Sibu.
Elaborating on this, Dr Annuar said the armed forces had identified a site within Sibu Hospital for the field hospital with a 100-bed capacity.
This field hospital, he added, would be equipped with the necessary facilities to take in non-Covid-19 patients awaiting discharge from the hospital.
“Non-Covid-19 patients who are waiting for their medical reports and are about to be discharged from the hospital will be transferred to the field hospital first,” he said.
As for the site itself, he said its strategic location will provide convenience for patients and healthcare personnel.
Touching on Covid-19 booster doses, Dr Annuar said the Sibu Division Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) will administer it starting Oct.
“The recipients for the booster dose will be the same vulnerable group of people who were the first to receive the vaccine in February. They comprise individuals above 60-years-old with comorbidities and frontliners,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said about 140 teachers who are vaccine hesitant would be receiving counselling from the state education department.
“Some are very firm due to personal opinion and we can’t force them. Some are still undecided and we think we can convince them to receive the vaccine,” he said. — DayakDaily
