Earthquake damages 31 health facilities in Sabah

RANAU: The earthquake which struck the state on June 5 and the following aftershocks damaged 31 health facilities, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

Of the total, 11 were in Ranau, comprising five rural clinics, four health clinics and the Ranau Hospital quarters while the damage in Tuaran involved a health clinic, a maternal and child health clinic and six rural clinics, he said.

Nine health facilities damaged in Kota Belud were the Kota Belud Hospital, a health clinic and seven rural clinics, he added.

Subramaniam said that in Papar, a maternal and child health clinic and a rural clinic were damaged while in Putatan a health clinic was damaged.

“The ministry will work with the Public Works Department to ascertain the damage. If forensic examination finds the buildings to be unsafe, we will build new facilities.

“If the structure of the buildings are safe and only require repair, then we will repair the buildings,” he told reporters during a visit yesterday.

Among the health facilities visited by Subramaniam were rural clinics in Kelawat, Tuaran, health clinics in Kundasang and the Ranau Hospital.

Facilities badly damaged include the Ranau Hospital quarters and Kundasang health clinic quarters, which had to be vacated.