SUBANG, Oct 17 — A total of 14,000 tonnes of medical supplies were flown to the new Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) field hospital in Tawau, Sabah this morning.
Armed Forces Health Services Division director-general Lt-Gen Datuk Pahlawan Dr Md Amin Muslan said also onboard the MAF Airbus A400M aircraft were 73 officers and personnel who will be on duty at the hospital.
“This is the first time we have collaborated with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to assist them especially to allow the Tawau field hospital to fully operate in dealing with the COVID-19 situation.
“MAF through the field hospital will remain there until the pandemic is under control,” he told reporters when met at the Subang Airport here today.
The fight had departed at about 8.30 am before returning with COVID-19 test samples from Sabah.
Last Sunday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the MAF field hospital was expected to begin operations next Tuesday.
The hospital is aimed at providing support by treating cases other than COVID-19, such as trauma and emergency surgeries as well as maternity cases and others.
Meanwhile, in Tawau, Field Hospital Commander Colonel Dr Shamsul Bahary Muhamada said a full test of the systems will be conducted on 19 October.
He said the hospital’s readiness level was now at 70 per cent and he expects operations to begin on Oct 20.
“Currently, layout work is in full swing, on top of preparation of equipment and supplies which involves movement of medical facilities from the Bravo Battalion Company based at Lok Kawi Camp in Kota Kinabalu,” he said in a statement here today.
In addition to this, he said the field hospital also awaits the arrival of its core team from the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital, the Lumut Armed Forces Hospital, the Terendak Armed Forces Hospital as well as the Second Medical Battalion and MAF medical elements from the Peninsula.
