Chieng (left) getting briefed on the progress of the work.

By William Isau

SIBU, Jan 3: Work on the new Primary Respiratory Clinic at Jalan Oya Polyclinic is expected to be completed by the end of March this year.

Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng who visited the site said construction on the building foundation had already started.

“I have allocated a total of RM149,750 from my MRP (Minor Rural Project) fund for this project so that the people of Sibu can have better medical facilities,” he said.

The clinic is being built at an area which was the previous car park of the polyclinic.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the respiratory clinic had to move out to the carpark.

The move to a makeshift clinic was to separate the patients from the others. This however caused the patients to be exposed to rain and heat.

With a proper clinic, the doctors and nurses can work in better conditions.

Chieng said the eight parking lots would have to make way for the construction of the clinic.

The polyclinic’s medical officer-in-charge Dr Chieng Hie Meng had previously said that on an average day, about 70 fever and cough patients seek treatment at the clinic. — DayakDaily