KOTA KINABALU: After the launch of 1Malaysia boatclinic service for residents near Sungai Baram in Marudi, Sarawak in April, people in Kinabatangan will have a similar service by year end.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the ministry was in the process of operating Kinabatangan clinic boat service targeting villagers along the river and those in Sukau area.
“We don’t have a timeframe. Hopefully by year end but we hope earlier than that,” she told reporters after visiting patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) with Kumpulan BTC Bhd in conjunction with Aidilfitri, here yesterday.
Like the first boat clinic in Marudi, Rosmah said the Kinabatangan boat service will also be funded by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) Foundation.
“For the service, we place a doctor who will be assisted by medical assistant, staff nurse, dentist and a pharmacist,” she added.
Another boat clinic service has been identified for Sarawak at Sungai Rejang. She did not elaborate.
During the tour, Rosnah was accompanied by Sabah Health director Dr Mohd Yusof Ibrahim and QEH director Dr Zuraidah Ahmad Babji.
BTC Bhd chief executive officer Abdul Kadir Sikkandar who gave raya kueh and Merdeka flags to patients said the annual event was its corporate social responsibility.
“In conjunction with the visit, I inspected development at QEH 1. I was told the building of twin towers will add 661 beds. It is 3.13 per cent behind schedule but the contractor has assured that construction will go on smoothly and hopefully completed as sheduled in December next year.”
He said one of the main factors that caused the delay was due to lack of cement in the market.