Field hospital for non-Covid patients in Sibu to be up soon
SIBU: A field hospital would be operational at Sibu Hospital’s compound to cater to non-Covid-19 patients, said Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC) coordinator Dr Annuar Rapaee.
The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing said the site of the 100-bed field hospital was identified by the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).
He said the facility, set to be ready in two weeks, would house non-Covid-19 patients waiting to be discharged.
“The field hospital will be managed by the ATM, and we have communicated with them. It is better to set up the field hospital within Sibu Hospital for better coordination of manpower and facilities.
“Please be informed that this field hospital is not to accommodate Covid-19 patients, as it is meant as a transit for patients to be discharged. In that way, we can free up beds in Sibu Hospital to cater for Covid-19 patients.
“This is part of the contingency plan if there are more new daily Covid-19 cases recorded in the division,” he told reporters during a visit to Sibu Civic Centre where the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) for adolescents aged between 12 and 15 in Sibu Division was being carried out.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had, in Kuching on Sunday, said that the federal government had agreed in principle to set up a field hospital in Sibu.
Touching on Khairy’s announcement about the modular incentive care unit (ICU), Dr Annuar said this should be ready by next month, and would add another 10 ICU beds in Sibu Hospital.
Meanwhile, Sibu Civic Centre vaccination centre (PPV) head Dr Deburra Peak Ngaoan said her team had been administering 1,300 to 1,400 doses per day since Sept 25.
“It is very well organised, with good cooperation between the Health Office and Education Office, as well as parents. Everything is smooth, no crowding and no long waiting time,” she said.