Rural clinics in Lawas, Limbang get medical equipment under Hope Delivery project

MIRI: The Rotary Club of Bintulu Central (RCBC) and Church of Jesus Christ of La•er-Day Saints (LDS Charities) handed over 117 units of medical equipment worth almost RM800,000 to a number of rural clinics in Lawas and Limbang, under the ‘Hope Delivery’ project.

The handing-over took place at Purnama Hotel in Lawas recently, where Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian witnessed Elder Sandy Hall and Sister Ardella Hall from LDS Charities and RCBC president Allen Wong present the equipment to Limbang Health officer Dr Norliza Jusoh.

“All these medical equipment sets are worth RM786,363, and they are meant for nine rural clinics in Limbang and nine in Lawas,” said Wong.

It is informed that the RCBC and LDS Charities had conducted visits to Lawas in 2019 and 2021 for eye-screening projects in school.

In this regard, Baru pointed out the need for be•er medical support and assistance for Lawas, especially the rural areas.

Elder Hall, meanwhile, remarked: “The church is happy to be able to help provide the highly needed diagnostic, emergency care, neonatal health, and safe motherhood equipment to the remote clinics in Limbang and Lawas.

“We have learned how the people in the remote villages are o“en unable to go to the larger centres for testing or treatment, and how such situation excludes them from ge•ing the help that they need.”

In addition, Wong thanked Dr Faezah Osman for the help in gathering data and providing the necessary support documents for project application, which was later approved for full sponsorship by the Church of Jesus Christ of La•er-day Saint.

“This is a meaningful project for the Rotary Club as a lot of people would just give up, may ignore the symptoms and opt for traditional treatments due to lack of access to diagnostic services, including POCT (point of care testing), usually available only in major hospitals and healthcare facilities.

“The good news is that we are now able to carry the lab tests in the rural clinics,” he said.

Elder Hall (second le) hands over a unit of the medical equipment to Dr Faezah, witnessed by Baru and Allen (le).