Warisan urges Sabah govt to step up efforts to tackle Covid-19

 By Olivia Miwil - September 2, 2021 @ 6:57pm

Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking said following reports of oxygen tanks and ventilators being rushed from other districts to the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan, the government should initiate allocation for this purpose and for other medical equipment and medication. -NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah has urged the Sabah government to step up its efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the state.

Its deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking said following reports of oxygen tanks and ventilators being rushed from other districts to the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan, the government should initiate allocation for this purpose and for other medical equipment and medication.

"Common sense tells us that the need for the oxygen tanks and ventilators in one way or another will correspond with the increase of daily new cases in a particular district especially in relation to those who need hospitalisation.

"The state government should also know that the increase of new cases is based on a constant trajectory.

"Hence the reports in the last two weeks should have given them ample time to prepare for sudden rise in need for oxygen tanks and ventilators in the state," he said in a statement.

Leiking, who is also Penampang member of parliament, said the situation in Sabah was bad, what with Covid-19 cases hovering above 2,000 for the past two weeks.

He also claimed that vaccine supplies at certain immunisation centres have been inconsistent.

With Sabah being a significant contributor to Malaysia's gross domestic product through its oil and gas production, the state should demand more from the federal government.

This, he said, should include engaging the expertise and facilities available in the private sectors and the military to resolve the situation.

"The government should also deal directly with vaccine producers to procure additional vaccines. It should also secure more single-dose vaccines such as Cansino and other similar products.

"They should even consider taking up the excess vaccine supply as loans from Selangor as has been reported in the media."

Meanwhile, Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the state is targeting vaccinating 60,000 people a day this month.

"Sabah is hoping to get 2,889,150 doses of the vaccine this month to increase the vaccination rate. To date, 41 per cent of the adult population have completed their vaccination."

Sabah today recorded 2,329 new Covid-19 cases.