MIRI: The Ministry of Health is considering preventive measures to help rural clinics in Telang Usan constituency that are frequently affected by floods.
Its Deputy Minister, Lukanisman Awang Sauni said this would include short and long term solutions.
“There are three rural clinics in Telang Usan constituency that are known to be frequently inundated during floods, namely Long Bemang Health Clinic; Ulu Teru Health Clinic and Long Teru Health Clinic,” he disclosed after officiating at the Miri level Tilawah Al-Quran competition at Miri Darul Khairat Bakam Mosque on Friday night.
During the event, Lukanisman announced an allocation worth RM15,000 to the competition’s working committee and another RM5,000 to the Miri Darul-Khairat Bakam mosque.
For the purpose of providing assistance, he added an assessment of the damage on the three rural clinics would be carried out right after the floodwaters subside.
“Through this assessment, I believed we will be able to make an evaluation of the cost of damage that occurred following the flood,” he said
Meanwhile, for a long term solution, he added, his ministry through a collaboration with the State Health Department would look into the possibility of replacing these rural wooden clinics in the area into concrete structure buildings.
“At the same time, we urge the relevant authorities such as the Public Works Department (PWD), Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and Department of Environment (DOE) Sarawak to inspect these health clinics to carry out a detail safety risk assessment,” he pointed out.
On another matter, when asked to comment on the recent collaboration between Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Lukanisman, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council Working Committee member, said he would let the party’s top leadership issue an official statement on it.