‘Kapit field hospital to remain in place until Covid curve flattened’
The hybrid field hospital in Kapit is to complement the existing healthcare services, by taking in non-Covid-19 patients from Kapit Hospital that are less critical. This would mean Kapit Hospital would have more beds available for critical Covid-19 patients.
Tan Sri Affendi Buang
KAPIT: The hybrid field hospital at Dewan Masyarakat Melayu, Kampung Muhibbah in Bletih here will remain operational until the Covid-19 curve is flattened, said Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang.
Speaking to the press during a working visit here yesterday, he said the hybrid hospital in Kapit is the third to be built in the country after the ones in Kedah and Sabah in 2020, with the aim of easing the burden on Kapit Hospital due to the increasing number of Covid-19 patients.
“The hybrid field hospital in Kapit is to complement the existing healthcare services, by taking in non-Covid-19 patients from Kapit Hospital that are less critical. This would mean Kapit Hospital would have more beds available for critical Covid-19 patients.
“So as long as there is a need, the hybrid field hospital here will stay on until such a time the Covid-19 infection curve can be flattened,” he said.
According to Affendi, the field hospital was fully set up on May 8 and welcomed its first patient on May 10.
Up till May 14, a total of 11 patients have been referred to the facility by Kapit Hospital.
Presently, the field hospital has a 40-bed capacity but this can be increased to 100 beds if the need arises.
A total of 53 medical personnel from both the army and Health Ministry are stationed at the field hospital.
Flying in with Affendi were Army chief General Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain and Royal Medical Corps director of health services Lt Gen Datuk Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh.
On hand to welcome them at the old Kapit Airport were First Infantry Division commander Major General Dato Dzulkafli Mustaffa, while Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit was among those welcoming the entourage upon their arrival at the field hospital.