Ministry to improve facilities at Lahad Datu hospital

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Stephen Wong being briefed by Lahad Datu Hospital director Dr Tan Hee Ting during the visit.

LAHAD DATU: The Ministry of Health and People’s Wellbeing will improve on the infrastructure of the district hospital so that the public can enjoy better medical services.

Its minister, Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, said his ministry would provide full commitment to ensure people received quality service from the government hospital.

He said they would not only work on improving the infrastructure but would also increase the number of doctors as well as giving attention to the needs of the hospital.
“Efforts to improve the services of Lahad Datu Hospital will go well with our plan to make this hospital as a medical centre in the east coast of Sabah.

“This hospital is located in a strategic location and is expected to give fast medical service in the east coast of Sabah, such as Sandakan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna and Kinabatangan,” he said during a visit to the Lahad Datu Hospital yesterday.

Stephen also explained that Lahad Datu Hospital was slightly burdened with the increase of patients due to the renovation at Sandakan Hospital.

He said patients that needed operations were sent to Lahad Datu Hospital. However, he said this arrangement would only be temporary.

Meanwhile, Stephen said his ministry would also focus on eliminating two serious diseases in Sabah, the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) and dengue.

Stephen said this year, a total of 2,845 cases of HFMD were recorded in Sabah with 58 cases in Lahad Datu. However, he said the disease was still under control in this district and no order for school closure was issued.

He said up to now, there were 20 schools in Sabah that had been ordered to be temporarily closed due to HFMD.

“We also recorded 1,982 cases of dengue throughout the state and 195 cases were recorded here in Lahad Datu.

“These two diseases are infectious and the ministry will take the necessary steps to eliminate them,” he added.