MIRI: In a significant stride towards enhancing the detection and control of tuberculosis (TB), the Jalan Merbau Health Clinic in Miri received a GeneXpert TB machine from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The donation aligns with the Malaysian Ministry of Health’s (MoH) ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services and combat TB, which affects approximately 10 million people globally each year.
The official handover ceremony took place yesterday May 13, and was attended by notable figures including WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe; MoH director of the Disease Control Division Dr Anita Suleiman; and Miri Divisional Health Officer Dr P. Raviwharmman Packierisamy.
Dr Rabindra presented the GeneXpert TB machine to Dr P. Raviwharmman during the ceremony held at the Jalan Merbau Health Clinic.
The advanced diagnostic tool, recommended by WHO since 2020, employs Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology to detect mycobacterium tuberculosis with 85 per cent accuracy and determine antibiotic resistance.
The new machine will serve Sarawak’s north zone, covering the Miri and Limbang Divisions and encompassing seven districts.
It represents a crucial enhancement in the region’s TB diagnostic capabilities, enabling more effective identification and treatment of the disease.
Dr Anita emphasised the importance of collaboration in combating TB, saying, “Efforts to control TB require solid cooperation from all involved parties, including the general public, to ensure effective implementation of prevention and control measures.”
