Sibu Hospital’s new MRI services to boost heart care, expand regional centre

SIBU (Feb 10): The installation of the state-of-the-art cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facility at Sibu Hospital is set to enhance cardiology services and could pave the way for a satellite centre in central Sarawak.

Chairman of the Standing Committee for Public Health and Environment of the Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC), Councillor Kevin Lau, said the high-technology cardiac MRI machine, valued at between RM8 million and RM9 million, was acquired at just RM2.6 million through an early trade-in agreement with the supplier.

“With the installation of this MRI machine, Sibu Hospital becomes the second hospital equipped with such a facility,” Lau said during the closing ceremony of the ‘Interheart’  Community Garden Programme at Rumah Dawi Ringgil, Sungai Pasai, here on Sunday.

He added that the Sarawak Heart Foundation contributed RM2.5 million to upgrade the technology of the machine, further strengthening cardiology services at the hospital.

“The new facility not only improves the hospital’s ability to diagnose heart diseases, but also supports plans to develop Sibu Hospital into a satellite heart centre.

“This will help ease congestion at the main heart centre in Kuching and make treatment more accessible for residents in central Sarawak,” Lau said.

He noted that an official announcement on the satellite heart centre is expected from the Ministry of Health soon.

Commenting on the ‘Interheart’ programme, Lau stressed the importance of raising public awareness on heart health and promoting healthy lifestyles through community gardening.

The programme was jointly organised by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and SRDC, with support from Urbanice Malaysia, the Sibu Divisional Health Department, the Sibu Divisional Agriculture Department and the Sarawak Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development.

Lau also thanked the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) of Rumah Dawi, government agencies, the medical fraternity, and local residents for their cooperation.

“It is essential to take care of our health and our environment in an integrated manner for the well-being of the community.

“I hope this community garden will benefit residents here for years to come,” he added.

Also present were SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai, Dean of the Unimas Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr Asri Said, and Tuai Rumah Dawi.