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By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 4: The Sarawak government wishes to collaborate with Johns Hopkins University of the United States on the interchange of data to produce medicines for new diseases in the future.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg described the cause of the Covid-19 pandemic in layman’s terms as “breathing polluted oxygen”, which later affected the immunity system of mankind.
Following the ordeal, the Sarawak government has set aside RM200 million and is working with medical institutions to construct Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) in Kota Samarahan.
“Actually, I had asked Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian (Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government) to collaborate with Johns Hopkins in the United States so that there will be an interchange of data.
“Sarawak is rich in biodiversity, and there could be some medicine in our plants that can heal new diseases,” he said during the opening ceremony of the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia’s (AMM) Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA) & College of Anaesthesiologists (COA) Annual Scientific Congress 2023 held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Abang Johari further said he and Dr Sim had talked to Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim about Sarawak’s intention to set up its cancer centre, which would be managed with the Ministry of Health (MOH).
“I told them I would set aside some funds for the Sarawak Cancer Centre. It is worth more than RM1 billion, and to me, it is worth investment for us to take care of our society,” he added.
He also mentioned that the Sarawak government gives scholarships every year to 40 students to pursue medicine in local universities and sends post-graduates studying overseas to produce a pool of medical specialists.
Amongst those present were Dr Sim; Professor Dr Marzida Mansor, president of the College of Anaesthesiologists, AMM; and Professor Dr Ina Ismiarti Shariffuddin, president of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA), AMM. — DayakDaily
