Director: Miri Hospital converts Medan Block into adult care centre, Phlebotomy Unit

MIRI (Aug 6): Miri Hospital has converted its former Covid-19 treatment centre at Medan Block into an adult care centre and Phlebotomy Unit, said director Dr Jack Wong.

Dr Wong explained that the block was built at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to isolate infected patients and now that the situation has subsided, converting it for other uses is the right way to fully utilise the facility.

“The building was funded by the Sarawak government. After the Covid-19 pandemic, instead of leaving it empty, we decided to overhaul and turn it into a 50-bed adult day care centre, where outpatients can receive various services and treatments without requiring an overnight hospital stay.

“There are also 50 beds at the Phlebotomy Unit. If there is other need in the future, we might convert it to cater for the purpose. So it is a multipurpose building,” he told reporters after receiving donation from Miri Chicken Hash House Harrier today.

Miri Hospital today received a donation of 250 pillows with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) covers for all wards, and four tables, four side cabinets, four file cabinets, and four chairs for the Medan Block, totaling RM14,180. The funds for these items were donated by 60 running members of the Miri Chicken Hash House Harriers.

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I, Datuk Sebastian Ting, who witnessed the handover of the donation, thanked the club members and the public for their generous contribution.

“It is important to note that in Miri, we have many groups of kind people who would go the extra mile to help fill in the gap when there is a need.

“The hash runners who contributed today are actually setting a great example that they don’t only run for health, they are doing good to the community,” he said.

Ting, who also donated a new air conditioner to the hospital’s Orthopaedic Unit, expressed hope that the donation would improve ward conditions at Miri Hospital.