FOLLOWING the termination of the health project contract in Daro, urgent actions have been taken to ensure the provision of dental services to the community.
Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Michael Tiang, revealed that the contract was terminated on Sept 8, 2022, due to the contractor’s failure to meet the project’s deadline.
As a result, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has approved adjustments to the project cost and efforts are underway to secure a new contractor to complete the project.
“To address the immediate need for dental services in Daro, the Sarawak Health Department has implemented a temporary measure.
“Since January 2023, a temporary dental clinic has been operational, equipped with two mobile dental chairs and essential dental equipment.
“The clinic provides daily services, including dental examinations, consultations, and basic treatments such as scaling, filling, and extractions, catering to the residents of Daro and Matu District.”
In response to a question from Daro assemblyman Safiee Ahmad, he added that plans were underway to establish a new Daro Dental Clinic that would offer comprehensive dental services to the community.
“The clinic will provide a wide range of treatments, including prosthesis, root canal treatment, and surgical procedures. Additionally, a visiting specialist will be available at the clinic to offer specialised services to the people of Daro.”
When replying to a supplementary question, Tiang also provided population statistics. “According to the Population and Housing Census conducted by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the total population for Daro and Matu District in 2020 was reported to be 37,900 and 21,400, respectively.”
