Kapit Hospital has own stock of rabies vaccine, says State Health director

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KUCHING: Sarawak Health Director Dr Jamilah Hashim has denied a news report that Kapit Hospital does not have its own stock of rabies vaccine.

In a statement issued yesterday, she said all 25 government health facilities throughout Sarawak are supplied with rabies vaccine stock to be used on animal bite victims.

“Kapit Hospital has been supplied with the rabies vaccine since August 2017. As of Sept 3 this year, a total 52 animal bite victims have been given rabies vaccination at Kapit Hospital.

“The other two government health facilities with rabies vaccine stock are Song Health Clinic and Sungai Asap Health Clinic,” she said.

She was responding to a news report on Wednesday quoting Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit as calling on the Health Ministry and state Health Department to supply Kapit Hospital with rabies vaccine.

Jamit claimed those who have been bitten by animals in Kapit currently would have to be referred to Sibu Hospital to get their rabies shot, making it not only inconvenient for the patient in terms of time spent but also incurring high costs.

He also said it was necessary for Kapit Hospital to have its own stock of rabies vaccine especially as three samples taken previously from dogs in Kapit had tested positive for the virus.

Dr Jamilah reminded those who had been bitten by animals to immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, and to seek immediate treatment at the nearest clinic or government hospitals.

“Always try to avoid being bitten by strays or wild animals since many areas in Sarawak are already rabies-infected,” she said.