DISASTER struck the Tangkarason Health Clinic in Sabah on Thursday morning (Feb 15) after a pre-dawn fire gutted the facility. Recently, a campaign has gone viral on social media to allegedly drum up funds for the stricken health clinic.
The post which has been shared numerous times, alleges that it was organised and authorised by the Sabah Health Department.
Is this true?
Verdict:
FALSE
The Sabah Health Department has denied being involved in a campaign to collect donations for the health clinic and quarters that were destroyed in the fire on Thursday.
Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna said the department was aware of the claims that had gone viral on social media and stressed that the department had never issued a directive or initiated such a donation campaign.
"The department wished to stress that the campaign (donation) was not under a directive from the department or initiated by the department," he said in a statement here on Saturday (Feb 17).
A message claimed a medicine specialist association had launched a donation drive among its members to collect donations for the clinic that was destroyed by fire but the viral message on social media did not say why the donation was being collected.
Dr Asits said the Sabah Health Department and the Health Ministry would ensure the welfare of its staff affected by the fire.
He added that contributions had been handed to two staff whose quarters were damaged in the fire so that their burden could be eased.
"They (those affected) have been placed at a nearby homestay and received psychological first aid," he said.
Dr Asits said following the damage to the Health Clinic, the services would be temporarily shifted to the Kampung Tangkarason community hall starting Feb 19. - Bernama
