Health services shifted after Beluran clinic destroyed in fire
KOTA KINABALU: All health services will be shifted temporarily to the Kampung Tangkarason multipurpose hall after a fire destroyed the Tangkarason Health Clinic in Beluran early Thursday morning.
Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna said the fire also destroyed a quarters located next to the clinic.
“The entire clinic and quarters buildings as well as medical facilities and other facilities were destroyed,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“To meet the needs of people, all services will be shifted temporarily to the Kg Tangkarason multipurpose hall,” he said.
Meanwhile, Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib said that swift action would be taken to address the problem that resulted from the fire.
James, who is Sugut assemblyman and Sabah Health Exco, said that the temporary health services will be provided at a location that will be identified.
“As of now, we are still waiting for the investigation from the Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department) to identify the source of the fire. Information received showed that the Tangkarason Health Clinic is a type 6 Health Clinic,” he said.
He added that a total of 2,738 villagers at the village are affected, hence the need to address the matter speedily.
As of now, we are still waiting for the investigation from the Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department) to identify the source of the fire. Information received showed that the Tangkarason Health Clinic is a type 6 Health Clinic.
Datuk Dr Asits Sanna
James also said that they have received a proposal to use the Kg Tangkarason multipurpose hall as a temporary clinic.
He said that there are two more clinics in the area. They are Paitan Health Clinic 29 kilometers from Kg Tangkarason and Sungai Sungai Health Clinic (50 km).
He said that the construction of a new clinic will require an average six months while the workers quarters will take nine months.
“For the level 6 health clinic type, allocation will be channeled based on discussion and decision with the Sabah Health Department and the Health Ministry,” he said.
Beluran fire and rescue station chief Edoen Macheal said they received a distress call at 1.08am on Thursday and deployed teams to the location, about 215 kilometers away from the fire station.
He said fire and rescue personnel only managed to control the blaze by 6am before the operation ended at 8.26am.
No untoward incident was reported. The cause of the fire and total loss are under investigation, he said.