BERA: The construction of Bera Hospital is testament to the government and Barisan Nasional's commitment to improving healthcare for some 150,000 residents here.
Now, people living in the interior, including orang asli villages and Felda areas, do not not have to travel up to two hours to the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital in Temerloh.
The construction of the RM92.5 million hospital also benefits residents of Negri Sembilan such as Gemas.
Bera Hospital started operations on July 1 with the opening of a 24-hour Emergency and Trauma Unit as well as an assessment centre.
The construction of the health facility was approved by the government through the 9th Malaysia Plan (RMK-9) to provide 40 beds in addition to having an operation theatre worth RM9 million.
The maternity hall and inpatient unit involving a children's ward and maternity ward opened on Aug 2 while the adult ward, specialist clinic and other services began operations on Oct 1.
The hospital also provides specialist services such as emergency and trauma, obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine, psychiatry, paediatrics and rehabilitation.
Resident Tok Batin Kampung Lubuk Tambangan, Junaidah Abdullah, 63, said the health facilities in Bera were better than they used to be, which is a huge relief for the orang asli community.
She credited the success of the facility to caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
"The Prime Minister (Ismail Sabri) is indeed concerned about providing quality medical services, especially to the Orang Asli community, most of whom still live in the interior.
"The construction of Hospital Bera makes it easier for us to get follow-up treatment that saves more cost and time than before," she said.
Kampung Sri Buntar in Triang head, Abd Khalil Husin, said Bera Hospital was one of the main infrastructures that residents have been looking forward to for a long time.
He said the hospital provides long-term benefits, especially for those who live in the interior to get follow-up treatment without having to go to Temerloh.
"Thanks to the Prime Minister, the federal government and the state government for fighting for this health facility for the benefit of the people," he said.
Kampung Padang Luas resident Sarinah Jabil said people felt more comfortable when seeking treatment and hoped that more health experts would be made available in the near future.
"Indeed, a lot of development has been injected into Bera and I hope that it will be able to provide a better life for the residents," he said.
Mohd Abdullah Sani said the hospital was necessary due to the village's remote location.
