Papar Hosp upgrade ready end of year, to benefit 100,000
Published on: Sunday, April 09, 2023
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
The Papar Hospital upgrading project to be completed by end of this year.
PAPAR: More than 100,000 people here and in nearby districts will enjoy better healthcare facilities and services once a project to upgrade Papar Hospital is completed by end of this year.Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said progress of the federal-funded RM98.5 million is 62 per cent, which is behind schedule.
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She said the project awarded in May 2017 experienced delays due to the shortage of manpower and construction materials, in addition to the outbreak of Covid-19.
"Although it is slightly behind (in completion) from our expectations of 70 per cent being completed, we will continue with discussions and monitoring between the Ministry of Health (MOH), Public Works Department, contractors as well as other parties to drive this project forward," she said.
Dr Zaliha said this to reporters after a visit to the project site at Papar Hospital, here, Saturday.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali; Sabah Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib; and Sabah Health Director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin.
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Dr Zaliha said besides the Papar Hospital, two other hospitals - Beaufort Hospital and Sikuati Hospital, Kudat - have been categorised as “sick projects” in Sabah, and are in the process of being upgraded.
Dr Zaliha (left) listens to a briefing by a contractor while Armizah (third left), James (second (second right) and others look on.
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Elaborating, she said the Papar Hospital, when completed, will benefit more than 100,000 residents in the Papar district as well as the surrounding districts in terms of receiving the best and more comfortable treatment and health services.
“The upgrading project involves the construction of wards and addition of 84 hospital beds for the paediatric ward as well as women and children’s wards.
“Besides this, services provided include emergency and trauma, X-ray, satellite pharmacy, operation theatres, offices and other facilities needed by local residents.”
At the Luyang Health Clinic (KK), she inspected the operational area and the condition of health service facilities provided for surrounding residents, where it was found that various issues required serious attention and further action. Among them were soil deposits that have caused cracks in buildings and clinic fences, cracks in the apron slab, cracks and leaks in the flat roof, damaged ceilings due to water dripping from the flat roof’ and electrical wiring issues.
For the record, the Luyang Health Clinic was the first in Sabah to practice the “One-Stop Centre” concept and receives an estimate of 800 patients daily. Dr Zaliha then visited the Kinarut Health Clinic, which has been operating since 1979 and upgraded with a new building in 2005 to house the Maternal and Child Health Unit, while Outpatient Unit, Laboratory Unit and Pharmacy Unit were built in the years next.
Dr Zaliha concluded her working visit at the Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital (HWKKS), the first government hospital in Malaysia to focus on gynaecological and paediatric treatment services.
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