MIRI: The Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia, through its Miri Liaison team, has donated medical equipment worth RM24,000 to the Long San Health Clinic in Ulu Baram.
The contribution includes 10 types of essential medical devices aimed at improving the clinic’s facilities, which serve as the healthcare hub for over 20 longhouses and settlements in the area.
Among the donated items are a syringe pump, pulse oximeter, hospital delivery bed, oxygen tanks and wheelchairs.
These donations are expected to significantly enhance the quality of care at the clinic, particularly for expectant mothers who currently face a serious lack of privacy during childbirth.
Speaking during the handover on Wednesday, volunteer Bryant Hwong highlighted the clinic’s pressing need for improved facilities.
“At Long San Clinic, there is no privacy for women giving birth. It’s almost like delivering in the open,” he said. “This situation deeply concerns us, and we felt the need to step in and help.”
The team’s intervention follows a visit to the clinic in June, after which the foundation identified the equipment needed to address some of the clinic’s challenges.
Dr Noor Izni Mohamed Shapie of the Miri Health Department received the donation on behalf of the clinic.
One of the most critical additions is the oxygen tanks, essential for emergencies.
“In urgent cases, patients need to be transported from Long San, which can take more than six hours,” Hwong explained. “The availability of oxygen tanks could mean the difference between life and death.”
The foundation also aims to extend similar support to other rural clinics facing shortages in medical equipment.
Hwong emphasized that while the government allocates funding for health services, it is often insufficient to meet the needs of all clinics, particularly those in remote areas.
“As an NGO, we strive to complement the government’s efforts in areas like health and education. This partnership helps bridge the gap,” he added.
The Long San Health Clinic has a long history of serving Ulu Baram’s residents, even predating Sarawak’s independence when it was run by Catholic missionaries.
Despite its central role in the community, the clinic’s resources have remained limited, underscoring the importance of initiatives like Tzu Chi’s.
With the new equipment in place, the foundation hopes to create a more comfortable and dignified environment for patients, especially mothers delivering their newborns.
“Health is a fundamental need, and we are honored to play a part in enhancing these services for the people of Ulu Baram,” Hwong said.
