KUCHING: The Respiratory Clinic has started operations at Kuching Indoor Stadium.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the facility would only be for those with fever, cough and other respiratory ailment.
“They should not have any contact with any persons under investigation (PUI) for Covid-19 or those suspected of contracting the sickness.
“This clinic is basically to relieve the crowdedness at government hospitals. We want to avoid those suspected of having Covid-19 from mixing around with the others.
“That is why the nurses and health personnel at the arrival tent will insist on taking the body temperature of all those coming here,” he said, adding that the service provided was free.
Uggah along with Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Corporate Communications Assistant Minister Abdullah Saidol, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion and State Health Department director Dr Chin Zin Hing visited the facility yesterday.
According to him, social distancing too would be the norm here, as the centre would be opened from 8am to 5pm every day except weekends and public holidays.
Uggah again reminded those who had come in contact with those suspected of having Covid-19 to go to the screening centre at Sarawak Youth and Sports Complex.
“The centre there is divided into two sections namely for those with the symptoms and those without them,” he told the press.
Meanwhile according to Dr Sim, the government would consider setting up more respiratory clinics in major towns like Sibu, Miri and Bintulu, if needed.
“We start with this one first and see how it goes. One of the main issues was how to protect the 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 going to 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.
“In Sarawak, we have more than 250 private practitioners and it will be very hard to provide them with adequate protection,” he explained.
Dr Sim added that the private practitioners could focus on non-Covid-19 cases.
“The state government needs them because they also provide very important jobs to tackle the other aspect of medical services.”
