KUCHING, Mar 23: The Sibu General Hospital urgently needs the upgrading of some medical equipment in its efforts to fight Covid-19.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Dudong branch chief Wong Ching Yong pointed out the needs in a statement today as he has been informed by the doctors of the hospital that the medical facilities to treat Covid-19 needed to be upgraded urgently.
“Right now, the Sibu General Hospital needs the following medical equipment on an urgent basis – six syringe pump 6 (RM5,000 each), six infusion pump (RM3,300 each), six bedside monitor (RM4,000 each), five adult laryngoscope (RM2,000 each), five adult ambubag (RM700 each), ten stethoscopes (RM150 each) and PCR analyser of RM150,000. The total amount is estimated to be RM230 000,” said Wong in a press statement today.
In view of the needs of the Sibu General Hospital, he proposed that the all the gazetted hospitals in Sarawak to treat Covid-19 be given additional RM 2 million each to purchase the enquired medical equipment.
He also pointed out that at the moment, only Sarawak General Hospital and UNIMAS Hospital have the the laboratories to test Covid-19.
“It is hereby suggested that all the gazetted hospitals in Sarawak to set up the testing laboratories particularly in view of the fact that Sarawak now has recorded five deaths from Covid-19.
“The construction of one testing laboratory is estimated to be RM2 million,” said Wong.
On the Sayangku Sarawak Financial Package announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, he said many had termed it as “The Sarawak Peoples’ Package”.
He said the 16-measure package has taken into consideration of the needs of the front liners such as doctors, nurses and employees of the hospitals.
“I understand parents of these front liners such as doctors and nurses etc are worried sick about the insufficient provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) because their children and loved ones who are the front liners will be exposed to Covid-19.
“The state government has disclosed that an amount of RM10 million will be allocated to PPE. It is the hope of these front liners and their loved ones that best PPE must be provided to them because they are risking their own lives to save the lives of others,” said Wong.
Wong also commanded the Sarawak government for giving away two million face masks for free.
“The present population of Sarawak is 2.69 million. Assuming one million Sarawakians need face masks. It means only two face masks for one Sarawakian. Many Sarawakians hope that more face masks will be given free.
“A pharmacist said that before the outbreak of Covid-19, a box of 50-piece face masks was sold for RM 25 i.e 20 sen per face mask. If the Sarawak Government finds it a heavy financial burden to give free face musks to Sarawakians, perhaps it can consider to sell face masks at a subsidised price.
“Again, anything given free needs very stringent administration to ensure that only true blood Sarawakians enjoy this benefits,” said Wong. — DayakDaily
