BUKIT MERTAJAM – Another heavy downpour last night, again, highlighted just how much an upgrade is needed at Bukit Mertajam Hospital, especially when rising waters threatened the safety of Covid-19 patients placed in tents outside the health facility.
Penang exco Chong Eng told The Vibes that the facility has been turned into a semi-Covid-19 hospital recently, and its emergency area expanded to screen and aid the infected.
“I have contacted Dr Goh (Hin Kwang) from the hospital, and was told that Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim has provided allocation for the temporary extension of the hospital.”
Sim, in a Facebook post, said he used his own funds to buy respiratory protective equipment worth about RM50,000 for Bukit Mertajam Hospital on August 6.
Semalam ramai yang menghantar video keadaan hujan dan penakungan air di zon kecemasan penilaian Covid-19 di Hospital...
Posted by Steven Sim Chee Keong 沈志强 on Monday, August 16, 2021
“On August 11, I met hospital director Dr Goh together with a sponsor to discuss the building of an extension for the Covid-19 emergency zone. The construction cost is estimated at RM110,000.
“Yesterday, the sponsor sent a contractor to have further discussions with the engineering unit at the hospital. Work is expected to begin soon if there is no obstacle. I will continue to ensure that the hospital residents, especially frontliners and patients, have a healthy and safe environment.”
Chong said the hospital is 100 years old and highly congested.
“They are trying their best to set up for Covid-19 patients, and all the beds are almost filled up within two weeks.
“They are trying their best to find a space. What we can do is support them, rather than make viral videos and give opinions on the situation at hand.”
However, it's said that the hospital is 100 years old and highly congested. pic.twitter.com/o1xlzh5opp
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) August 17, 2021
For the past 60 years, the federal government has not invested enough to proportionately upgrade the hospital according to demand and the increased population, she added.
“It is a big challenge for the hospital when it comes to the topic of upgrading because it is very old. Unless you want to build a new hospital and move there, it is quite challenging to rebuild it phase by phase.
“But that does not mean we do not do it, or else it will still be stuck in the same situation for another 50 years.
“I hope the federal government and Health Ministry will provide a bigger allocation, so all the facilities (at the hospital) can be upgraded accordingly. It has taken an emergency for people to realise the faults in the system.” – The Vibes, August 17, 2021
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