KUCHING, March 24: The Sarawak Health Department has set up a temporary respiratory clinic at the Indoor Stadium, Petra Jaya here especially for patients with fever, cough and respiratory ailments but no history of contact with confirmed cases or clusters of Covid-19 cases.
The clinic will be open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday only except on public holidays and service is free to the public.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian visited the facility to inspect operations earlier today.
“They (patients) should not have any contact with any person-under-investigation (PUI) for Covid-19 or those suspected of contracting the sickness.
“This clinic is basically to relieve overcrowding at government hospitals. We want to avoid those suspected of having Covid-19 mixing around with the others,” Uggah emphasised.
Nurses and healthcare personnel manning the facility will check body temperature of individuals upon arrival at the facility, apart from practising social distancing, he added.
Uggah reminded those who have been in contact with or have contact history with any Covid-19 cases or suspected cases in the clusters to go for screening at the State Youth and Sports Complex.
“The centre is divided into two sections with one for those with symptoms and another for those without,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim revealed the state government would consider setting up more respiratory clinics in major towns like Sibu, Miri and Bintulu should the need arise.
“We start with this one first and see how it goes,” he said, pointing out that one of the main issues faced was protecting frontliners like general practitioners or private doctors in the state.
“With this facility, all those with fever, cough and shortness of breath can come here instead of the private practitioners. Otherwise all of them (private practitioners) will need protection like the PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and others, bearing in mind they might come across those suffering from Covid-19,” he added.
Dr Sim emphasised that Sarawak has more than 250 private healthcare practitioners and it will be very hard to provide all with adequate protection equipment and gear.
“The private practitioners could focus on non-Covid-19 cases. We need them because they also provide very important care to tackle the other aspect of medical services,” he said.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Corporate Affairs and Sarawak Public Communications Unit) Abdullah Saidol, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion and State Health director Dr Chin Zin Hing were among those present. — DayakDaily
