Clinic staff endure working in challenging situation
KAPIT: It has been a great challenge for the staff of Kapit Health Clinic in providing basic medical and healthcare services not only to the townsfolk and the communities around here, but also to those living in the remote pockets across the division.
Things have been getting even more demanding with Covid19, which has pushed everyone to adapt to the ‘ new norms’ including social distancing and more stringent hygiene practices.
According to Kapit Health Clinic director Dr Fahani Samat, the facility has been fully complying with the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the Ministry of Health, with the aim of helping to flatten the Covid-19 curve.
In addition, the daily opening hours have also been restructured – for now, the clinic is running from 8am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays.
“This is to avoid overcrowding. For those who live in town and the nearby areas, we advise them to come after 5pm, for us to accommodate the morning visitors – the majority of whom are from the rural longhouses.
“However, the current situation has taken quite a toll on us – we have manpower shortage, yet our workload is heavy. Apart from this clinic, we also have 12 rural clinics to look after,” said Dr Fahani in her briefing presented to Deputy Health Minister II Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang during the latter’s visit to the clinic here recently.
The rural clinics under Kapit Health Clinic are those in Sungai Melinau, Sungai Sekeroh, Tunoh Resettlement Scheme, Long Busang, Punan Bah, Nanga Ibau, Nanga Merit, Sungai Bena, Nanga Entawau, Sungai Merirai, Sungai Gaat and Nanga Mujong.
It is informed that the medical officers ( MOs) would conduct visits to these rural clinics once a month – except for the one in Long Busang, which is once in two months.
According to Dr Farhani, this is due to the remoteness of the area – from here, it could take up to nine hours to reach Long Busang via logging road and river transportation.
The Kapit Health Clinic has a total staff of 93 people – one family doctor, eight MOs, 10 medical assistants (MAs), 41 nurses, and 33 support staff members.
“The number of patients has increased drastically. We attended to 300 to 400 patients per day in 2018 and 2019, but now the number has reached up to 500 patients per day.
“This means that each MO, on average, treats between 60 and 70 patients a day; at the same time, all of us must ensure that everyone complies with the SOP,” said Dr Farhani.
She also informed Ago about the restrictions that her staff faced in dealing with the patients.
“We have limited space area, which can barely accommodate rising number of patients. For example, we have no choice but to take blood samples at the old canteen adjacent to the clinic block. The old chairs need replacing. We also need additional portable ventilator, replace the air-conditioning units and upgrade the equipment in the physiotherapy section,” she added.
In his remarks, Ago who is Kanowit MP, said his visit was meant for him to find out the situation on the ground.
“This briefing, for example, is among the way forward in planning for better provision of healthcare services to the people in this division.
“As a Deputy Minister of Health, I have been tasked by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyuddin Yassin to look into the healthcare services and facilities in Malaysian, especially in Sarawak and Sabah,” he said, adding that he had gone to the Sungai Asap Health Clinic in Belaga the previous week.
Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, Health Department Sarawak director Dr Chin Zin Hing, Kapit Health officer Dr Hamidi Mohamad, and Kapit Hospital director Dr Ivan Vun were among those who accompanied Ago during the visit.
This is to avoid overcrowding. For those who live in town and the nearby areas, we advise them to come after 5pm, for us to accommodate the morning visitors – the majority of whom are from the rural longhouses. Dr Fahani Samat