Petronas donates medical equipment to Sundar Health Clinic in Lawas

KUCHING (Sept 18): The local community in Sundar, Lawas can now enjoy better healthcare services following the contribution of new medical equipment to Sundar Health Clinic by Petronas recently.

The clinic is now equipped with medical equipment worth RM51,627 which included medical devices such as a suction pump, an electronic non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurement device, two digital blood pressure monitors, a serum bilirubinometer, a multichannel electrocardiograph, and an adult digital weighing scale with height rod, according to a press release from Petronas.

Other non-medical items included three high back chairs, six stainless steel row chairs, an automatic washing machine, and six boltless racks.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan was present to witness the handing over of the medical equipment which was handed over to the clinic by Petronas Sarawak general manager Norazibah Md Rabu.

Sundar Health Clinic is the sixth rural clinic in Sarawak to benefit from this initiative which kicked off last year at Nanga Mujau Health Clinic in Nanga Spak, Betong.

Petronas has allocated RM1.3 million for the five-year programme to improve the quality of healthcare services in 26 rural health clinics across Sarawak by providing essential medical equipment to replace obsolete and incomplete equipment.

This initiative is part of the ‘Improvement of Rural Healthcare – Services and Facilities in Sarawak’, implemented by Petronas in collaboration with the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Sarawak (Sabati) and the Sarawak Health Department.

Earlier this year, Petronas provided medical equipment to Sadong Jaya Health Clinic, Nanga Medamit Health Clinic in Limbang, Santubong Health Clinic, and Batang Ai Health Clinic.

Following Lawas, the next handover is scheduled on Sept 26 at Kuala Balingian Health Clinic and is expected to be witnessed by Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi.

The remaining 20 rural clinics in this programme are set to receive their equipment contributions in stages by 2025.

Through this meaningful initiative, Petronas aims to support the Sarawak government in improving the standard of care and long-term healthcare of patients in rural clinics across the State.

At a separate function in Lawas, Awang Tengah also witnessed the handing over of the Yayasan Petronas Clean Water Project from Norazibah to Kampung Lakutan community representative, Serudin Suharna at Surau Nor Iman, Kampung Lakutan Baru.

The completion of this project has benefitted more than 100 local residents at Kampung Lakutan who can now finally enjoy direct access to clean regular water supply at their homes.

Supported by Yayasan Petronas, the social impact arm of Petronas, the clean water project was implemented by Yayasan Ikhlas and benefitted 26 households who previously relied on stream and rainwater for their daily needs.

The project is also being implemented at Kampung Yoh in Bintulu. It involved the installation of a tubewell and will benefit 37 families there who have been experiencing insufficient water supply.

Through this effort, Yayasan Petronas aims to provide rural communities with easier access to treated and clean water, which can substantially contribute to better health and quality of life.

This initiative underscores Yayasan Petronas commitment to enhancing community well-being and supporting projects that address essential needs.

In addition, this project also coincides with the United Nation Development Programme’s (UNDP) Sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which is Clean Water and Sanitation.