HUSM the only fully functioning hospital left in Kelantan
Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) in Kubang Kerian is the only remaining hospital in flood-ravaged Kelantan that is fully functioning and able to treat critical medical cases, especially those dependent on life-support systems and other medical equipment.
Despite the enormous pressure on its shoulders, as critically affected patients from other medical centres are being flown by air to the hospital, the staff and facilities of HUSM are coping well, said Prof Datuk Dr Mafauzy Mohamed, director of USM’s health campus.
He said with the increase in patients, help is arriving from the Health Department which has deployed medical staff there.
“This is now the only hospital fully functional in Kelantan,” he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted.
He said the critical patients who are transferred from other hospitals, which have been adversely affected by floods, include those on ventilation machines, cardiovascular support and respiratory support.
“They have to be airlifted here. We are continuing to do that now,” he said, adding that the USM campus is not under water and the electricity supply to the hospital is also stable.
He said there is no critical pressure on the hospital’s manpower and facilities as yet.
Patients include those from the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, the main government hospital in Kota Baru, and the public hospitals in Kuala Krai, Tumpat and Pasir Mas.
Incidentally, former Kelantan menteri besar and PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, 83, is also currently warded at HUSM for an ailment unrelated to the flood situation.
In a statement, HUSM director Datuk Dr Zaidun Kamari said many medical students were also helping medical officers on duty, but stressed that this did not mean that they were taking over the duties of doctors.
He urged people not to over-react and misinterpret a message in the social media urging medical students to come forward and help at the hospital during the floods.
"They are giving assistance to the doctors. This should be a part of their learning process to help patients, not just during times like this but also in normal situations,” he said.
It is learnt that the Education Ministry’s director-general of higher education, Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, held a meeting with Mafauzy and other senior HUSM officials on meeting the manpower requirements related to managing the flood victims and on the additional allocation of RM3.5 million to the hospital to help cope with the disaster.
USM has also deferred all examinations involving some 1,300 students at the Kubang Kerian campus which were supposed to begin today. – December 28, 2014.
