KUCHING: Residents of Kampung Bintawa Hilir here are thrilled that a new clinic — Maternity and Child Health Clinic or ‘Klinik Kesihatan Ibu dan Kanak-kanak’ (KKIK) has been built in the village.
The new clinic will hopefully start operating in February next year. It will be manned by two medical officers and 12 other staff.
Presently, the residents of Kampung Bintawa Hilir have to go to Tanah Puteh Clinic for health checks and other issues.
The villagers are very thankful to the state government and to their MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar for bringing the clinic to the area.
New Sarawak Tribune interviewed several residents of Kampung Bintawa Hilir, Kampung Bintawa Tengah and Kampung Sourabaya Ulu regarding their feelings towards the newly built clinic in their area.
Sejaah Ismail, a member of KRT Women Neighbours of Kampung Bintawa Hilir expressed her excitement over the clinic, which the villagers have been waiting for a long time to be built.
“Back in the old days, us from Kampung Bintawa Hilir have to go all the way to Kampung Bintawa Ulu, when there was only one clinic operating in Kampung Bintawa area,” she said.
Zaina Mohamad, also a member of village KRT said that the clinic would definitely ease the pain and worries for mothers towards their child’s health.
“Before this, we have to go to Tanah Puteh Health Clinic due to the dilapidated condition of Kampung Bintawa Ulu health clinic. The distance to Tanah Puteh Health Clinic is quite far and with the new clinic, our concerns have been solved,” she said.
Zaiton Mohamad, another member of the KRT agreed that the clinic is definitely worth the wait.
“We’ve been waiting for five years for the clinic after it was announced to us. They started building the clinic in the middle of the year, and finally it is done,” she added.
Suriyani Seman, said members KRT Women Neighbours of Kampung Bintawa Hilir had gathered together and cleaned the newly built clinic and its surrounding areas.
Ketua Kaum of Kampung Sourabaya Ulu, Amit Abg Sahari said that pregnant mothers will no longer need to worry about the distance of other clinics — such as Tanah Puteh Health Clinic or KPJ Hospital to seek treatment.
“Upon seeing this newly built clinic, the number of consultation rooms, the width of the waiting area and the treatment rooms for patients, I am truly satisfied. I believe the clinic can serve the residents of Kampung Bintawa, and also up to Kampung Boyan area,” he said.
Amit hoped that the clinic would be provided with fencing and safety grill to avoid any break-ins.
Ketua Kaum of Kampung Bintawa Tengah Saree Kumut, thanked the Health Department and Wan Junaidi for the clinic although it is not within his village.
“As long as the clinic is here (in the area of Kampung Bintawa), I am very thankful because it is not easy to get health facilities in every villages.”
Saree hoped the Health Department could station an ambulance at the clinic for the purpose of emergencies.
“This clinic will definitely benefit mothers and children, and ease their worries regarding their child’s healthcare,” he said.
