Repairs of damaged clinics to take six months to complete

SEGAMAT: The repair works of health facilities that were hit by the recent Johor floods will take about six months, said Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

She said there were six facilities in the state that were severely damaged – one of them is a health clinic while five others are village clinics (klinik desa).

“The things damaged include medical records, furniture and equipment.

“For the village clinics, they have resumed operation with borrowed furniture from other clinics.

“For the Chaah health clinic, the worst-hit health facility, it is operating at Dewan Serbaguna Pekan Chaah located about 500m from the original clinic,” she told reporters after visiting Klinik Desa Kampung Tengah here, also one of the flood-hit clinics.

Other facilities affected are Klinik Desa Kampung Jawa, Klinik Desa Jabi, Klinik Desa Tenang Station and Klinik Desa Temu Jodoh.

“We have assessed the losses suffered by these health facilities and they are estimated at RM1.8mil.

“It will cost about RM750,000 to fix them and the repair works will take about six months to be completed.

“The allocation has been approved and we hope the respective district medical officers will take note and do the necessary, so that the repair works could be carried out as soon as possible,” she added.

Asked if there is a need to relocate facilities that are often hit by floods, Dr Zaliha said that so far, only one clinic has been identified.

“Like this clinic (in Desa Kampung Tengah), not only is it exposed to floods but since it is located at the side of the road, there was also an incident where it was hit by a lorry.

“We have identified a new location about 3km away and will consider building the new facility there,” she added.

On a separate matter, the minister said she would consider the suggestion of a public health advocate to change the ministry’s system of taking in contract medical workers.

“It is a good suggestion.

“We will consider it but it is not something that can be implemented immediately as it involves the ecosystem of the service itself,” she added.