ATM ready to help in vaccination drive
KAPIT: The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) remain committed to assisting the government in facilitating the ongoing national Covid-19 vaccination programme.
In pointing this out, First Infantry Division commander Major-Gen Datuk Dzulkafli Mustaffa highlights the settingup of a hybrid field hospital at Dewan Masyarakat Melayu in Kampung Muhibbah Bletih here as a way for the army to help alleviate the burden of the frontliners. The field hospital is managed by the Ministry of Defence to accommodate nonCovid-19 patients in Kapit.
“This hybrid facility was set up following a request from the Ministry of Health, to support Kapit Hospital in looking after the non-Covid-19 patients, who would be referred to us (army field hospital).
“This is to allow Kapit Hospital to have more room for and to focus on treating Covid-19 patients and also those with critical illnesses.
“The ATM is fully committed to providing the appropriate assistance where the needs arise.
“The establishment of this hybrid hospital is proof of our readiness in cooperating with other departments and agencies in containing the Covid-19 threat. At the same time, this could also improve the public relations between army and the community,” said Dzulkafli at a press conference held in connection with his visit to the army field hospital at Kampung Muhibbah Bletih here last Saturday.
This field hospital is about 5km away from Kapit Hospital, and 1km away from Kapit Health Clinic.
Dzulkafli was accompanied by the Third Infantry Brigade commander Brig-Gen Datuk Azhar Ahmad, Ninth Infantry Brigade commander Brig-Gen Shamshor Jaafar, Regiment 51 of Territorial Army commander Brig-Gen Abang Mohamad Abang Marzuki, and Junaco Park Camp commanding officer Brig-Gen Sarman Rahrom.
Prior to that, the top army officials attended a briefing conducted by the hybrid field hospital’s officer-in-charge LtCol Dr Saiful Anuar, who was assisted by Major Dr Vinodkumar Manogaan.
Dzulkafli said since commencing operation on May 10 this year, the hybrid field hospital had treated 127 patients.
“To manage such a facility would require manpower and resources. In this sense, we are working closely with Kapit Hospital.
“However, next week we will announce whether or not we would continue to run this hybrid hospital. The decision would depend on the outcome and feedback from the Health Ministry.
“We strive to achieve a win-win situation.”
Dzulkafli also said apart from Kapit, the ATM had set up hybrid hospitals in Kedah, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and also Tawau in Sabah.
Each facility has up to 50 medical personnel from both the ATM and the Health Ministry. On average, a field hospital has 29 beds and whenever any need arises, the number of beds could be increased to 50.
On the Covid-19 vaccination programme, Dzulkafli said members of the Royal Malaysian Army Medical Combat Team had been deployed to the remotest parts of Sarawak to provide vaccines to the rural folk there.
“In Kapit, our teams are at Nanga Ngungun, Kanowit, Long Singguh, Long Unai and Long Busang, where we provide ‘up-tothe-doorstep’ – meaning, moving from door to door – to ensure that everyone would receive vaccination.
“We are helping the government to achieve over 80 per cent of total population being vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Across Kapit, the army medical teams would travel via land and rivers, while across Ulu Baram, they would board helicopters to send them to as many remote pockets as possible.”
On another note, Dzulkafli said 96 per cent of all army personnel and their families in Sarawak had received vaccination.
This hybrid facility was set upfollowing a request from the Ministry of Health, to support Kapit Hospital in looking after the non-Covid-19 patients, who would be referred to us (army field hospital).
Major-Gen Datuk Dzulkafli Mustaffa