Army to open field hospitals in 5 more states, after Covid-19 spike

 

Hishammuddin Hussein said the army has sufficient infrastructure, assets and expertise, and is ready to be mobilised. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Field hospitals will be set up by the army in five states identified as facing a spike in Covid-19 infections.

Defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein says the five states are Sabah, Johor, Kedah, Penang and Kelantan.

He said efforts to manage and ease the situation in all the states will be a priority for the army.

“As I said yesterday, one of the most important things for the army at this time is to fulfil the national agenda, especially when it comes to fighting Covid-19.

“The army has sufficient infrastructure, assets and expertise, and is ready to be mobilised at any time,” he told a press conference at Wisma Pertahanan here today.

Hishammuddin said the setting up of the field hospitals was to help provide treatment to Covid-19 patients, especially those in Category 3 and above, and also to reduce the health ministry’s burden in those states.

“It also takes into account the remark by the health minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) yesterday that one of the government’s priorities now is to increase vaccine supply and ramp up the vaccination rate in the five states,” he said.

Hishammuddin added that apart from helping to provide vaccination teams in the five states, especially in rural areas that are difficult for the health ministry to reach, the army will also provide appropriate assistance to other states.

“This includes increasing the capacity of drive-through vaccination sites for the public as set by the National Security Council (MKN) special meeting today. The army is just waiting for the location confirmation by the National Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) to mobilise its assets,” he said.

Elaborating on the involvement of assets under the army in the setting up of the field hospitals, Hishammuddin said he believed that there would not be any problem in making it work and run smoothly.

“I believe we can do this. The cooperation from all stakeholders will ensure that the plan runs smoothly,” he said.

When asked whether the presence of military personnel in remote and rural areas would cause uneasiness among the people, Hishammuddin said they need not worry as the soldiers are there to carry out the national agenda to fight Covid-19.

“Right now, we are not at war with anybody. We are at war with Covid-19. So, the people and villagers in the rural areas need not worry about the presence of military personnel,” he said. - FMT