JOHOR has requested a special allocation of RM2.89mil from Health Ministry for damage to medical facilities and equipment during the floods.
State health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon (pic) said the Johor Health Department submitted the request for medical and non-medical equipment as well as repair and replacement of vehicles.
He hoped the request would be expedited by Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, who is Sekijang MP, so that all medical facilities could operate as usual.
Ling said 41 medical facilities in Johor such as health and village clinics were affected by the floods.
“As of Tuesday (March 21), 38 out of the 41 facilities had resumed operations after floodwaters receded and cleaning works were completed,” he said during the state assembly sitting at Kota Iskandar.
“Three more facilities have yet to resume operations as two of them – Klinik Desa Kundung Ulu Tangkak and Klinik Kesihatan Chaah – are unsafe for operation.
“As such, their operations have been relocated to Klinik Kesihatan Sri Pandan and Dewan Serbaguna Chaah,” he said, adding that Klinik Desa Sri Pandan was still being cleaned up.
Ling said the state Health Department had also set up a mobile team to visit all temporary relief centres to check on flood victims.
“A total of 91 teams with 445 officers from the department conducted health screening and checked for diseases. So far, it is all under control,” added Ling.
In an unrelated matter, state education, information and communication committee chairman Norliza Noh said 52 schools in Johor were inundated during the floods between Feb 28 and March 21.
Another 187 schools were used as temporary relief centres, she added.
“As of now, there are 19 schools in Batu Pahat that are still being used as relief centres,” she told the House.
She said the Education Ministry had allocated RM2.36mil for repair and maintenance work at 58 affected schools.
“The state government will also channel an allocation of RM500,000 for schools that suffered severe damage due to the floods in Segamat and Batu Pahat,” she added.
Norliza said Education Ministry used existing allocation to replace school assets damaged in the floods.
She said the ministry and the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) had identified the locations most suitable for flood relief centres.
“Among the criteria that we will look at are the location of schools that are often used as relief centres and whether they are surrounded by vast land.
“They should also have enough infrastructure and facilities to support the building of a multipurpose community hall,” she added.
