RM6-million building largest SJAM-KPS centre in country

BINTULU: A new double-storey building to house the St John Ambulance Malaysia – Kawasan Pantai Selangor Foundation (SJAM-KPS) haemodialysis centre will be built in Bintulu to cater to the increasing number of haemodialysis patients in the town and  surrounding areas.

Commander-In-Chief of St John Ambulance Malaysia Datuk Dr Low Bin Tick said once completed, this new haemodialysis centre will have a capacity of 84 dialysis machines to cater to 320 patients.

The construction of the centre at a cost of RM6 million is expected to commence sometime early next year upon approval from Bintulu Development Authority (BDA).

Low said this will be the second SJAM-KPS dialysis complex in Sarawak after its first centre in Sibu.

He said the Bintulu centre–the foundation’s tenth centre–started operations on February 1, 2007 in three rented shop lots from BDA and presently operates with 13 dialysis machines catering up to maximum of 72 end-stage kidney patients.

However with the new complex, they will be able to provide better service and accommodate more patients.

“The earth-clearing work at the site will start next month and construction is expected to be completed within 18 months,” he told a press conference here Thursday before the ground-breaking ceremony for the new building.

Minister of Public Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom was present to officiate at the ground-breaking ceremony, representing Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Source: TheBorneoPost, NewSarawakTribunal, TheBorneoPost (BM), PortalRasmiBintulu