MIRI: The federal government has allocated a total RM8.8 million to the Health Ministry to upgrade and renovate 36 dilapidated health clinics in Sarawak this year.
Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni disclosed this after a working visit to the Tun Abang Haji Openg Health Clinic on Tuesday.
“This upgrading will include the Tun Abang Haji Openg Health Clinic in Sibuti as part of our efforts to ensure quality service to the public,” he said.
Lukanisman said a new unit would be built to accommodate an emergency room at the clinic.
“The clinic has very limited space and needs to be upgraded in order to deliver health care services to people from the surrounding areas,” he said.
Among other clinics to be upgraded are the Mother and Child Clinic here as well as health clinics in Tebedu, Mukah, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Tarat and Sibu (Jalan Oya).
“The upgrading works would involve the construction of new building and staff quarters,” he said.
Earlier, Lukanisman was at the Long Lama community hall, where the clinic is currently located after being moved there following soil erosion in 2020 at its previous site.
“For long term solution, we are planning to construct mircopiles around the Long Lama Clinic site to stabilise the soil surface before proceeding with the construction of the building and this would take about a year,” he said.
For the short term planning, they have requesting the state government to continue allowing the usage of the Long Lama community hall.
On another note, Lukanisman said, 14 heat stroke cases have been reported nationwide following the hot weather, six of which were reported to have occurred in Sarawak.
