KUALA LUMPUR – On the back of an overwhelmed government hospital and rising Covid-19 cases, Klang MP Charles Santiago wrote to vaccination coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin requesting for more jab centres in his constituency.
Santiago said in a letter that three vaccination centres in Klang are not enough to provide 10,000 jabs a day.
“Seeing that the daily number of positive cases remains high, I suggest that the target for the rate of vaccination be increased so we can achieve herd immunity.
“I request that there be more PPVs in Klang, while also increasing the target for the rate of vaccination.”
Klang has a population of 1.5 million and includes industrial zones – the three large ports of Westport, Northport, and Southport.
“Klang has hundreds of companies in the manufacturing sector and dozens of shipping agent companies, proving that the area needs more attention to reduce the spread of Covid-19,” he added.
Yesterday Klang recorded two new clusters with a total of 60 cases, and Selangor recorded 4,400 cases yesterday with 280 active clusters.
It was also reported that Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) is overwhelmed and desperately in need of more beds and resources.
Santiago also took to Twitter yesterday to retweet a viral video showing the situation at HTAR, where patients were left waiting on the floor without beds or food, while doctors were exhausted from working long hours and dealing with overused medical equipment.
Klang GH in dire need of support NOW
— Charles Santiago (@mpklang) July 8, 2021
The government has allocated RM1.1 million in an emergency move to mitigate the overwhelming number of Covid-19 patients at Klang General Hospital.
This initial fund must reach Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah within 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/VyeneIYBNC
Although Health Minister Datuk Dr Adham Baba said that the hospital will be receiving aid worth RM1.1 million, Santiago said it is not enough as the hospital needs much more funding.
“It’s time to employ all medical graduates and recall contract doctors with permanent employment deals, as well as increase funding. An injection of RM1.1 million in funds from the federal government is laughable.”
He said a ventilator costs around RM200,000, and the aid from the ministry will not be enough to provide the help the hospital needs.
“The federal government must pump in RM20 million to enable an upgrade in medical infrastructure including ICU facilities, oxygen tanks, and beds.” – The Vibes, July 10, 2021
