5,008 tuberculosis cases in Sabah last year

By Olivia Miwil - April 15, 2019 @ 4:40pm

Some 5,000 tuberculosis cases were recorded in Sabah last year.- NSTP/FAIL NSTP.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has recorded 5,008 tuberculosis cases last year.

Datuk Japlin Akim (PPBM-Usukan) said about 13 per cent of the cases involved foreigners.

He said Kota Kinabalu registered the highest cases of 904; followed by Sandakan (594), Tawau (455) Semporna (388) and Lahad Datu (387).

“I hope the State Health and People’s Wellbeing Ministry will take swift action to prevent the disease from spreading,” he said during the 15th state assembly sitting.

Meanwhile, Japlin said in the previous sitting, he had asked the government to build a health clinic at Mantanani island off Kota Belud.

“The island is isolated with more than 1,000 villagers and is a destination for domestic and international tourists.

“It will be difficult for them to seek treatment at the mainland especially during monsoon season,” he said, adding that the Kampung Kuala Abai health clinic at the mainland was also closed a few months ago.

Datuk Abidin Madingkir (UPKO-Paginatan) also raised the need to build a new hospital in Ranau to accommodate the increase of population in the district.

“There are more number of patients in Ranau nowadays causing the hospital to be overcrowded.

“Besides lacking in modern facilities, outpatients have to wait a long time for their turn to seek treatment.

“Those who cannot be treated in the district will have to be sent to KK which is a hassle for them.” he added.