| Daniel Lim |
THE Panaga Health Centre (PHC), previously known as Panaga Hospital, held its 50th anniversary celebration at its premises yesterday to mark five decades of providing world class healthcare to the Belait community.
Opened officially in 1968 by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Panaga Health Centre aimed specifically to provide medical services to Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP) employees.
Officiating the event as guest of honour was BSP Managing Director Dr Ceri M Powell, who was welcomed by BSP Chief Medical Officer Dr Ahmad Fakhri Junaidi.
Acting Belait District Officer Haji Md Zamree bin Haji Junaidi, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital Chief Executive Officer Haji Abdul Khalid As’ahi bin Haji Azahari and other guests also attended the event.
Also present were the centre’s current and former staff, individuals from the Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) community and others from the Belait District, including officials from the Ministry of Health (MoH), Belait District Office, British Garrison and BSJV employees who were born in the year the hospital was opened.
Dr Powell in her opening remarks during the ceremony said, “As a hospital that was known to be the most modern hospital in the country at the time it opened its doors, PHC has provided top quality healthcare, including emergency care, to BSP employees as well as the community of Kuala Belait and Seria.
“At the same time, BSP staff who came to Brunei far from their home countries have also benefitted from this same top-level and personalised medical care.”
She added that PHC has played a major role in training Brunei medical professionals, from pharmacists and nurses to doctors and dentists.
The centre has moved from strength to strength, and was accredited by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health in 2013 and 2017. Its vision is to deliver quality health services through a CARE approach – Centre of Excellence, Accredited for Quality, constantly Responsive to business and patient needs catered by an Expert healthcare team.
“This event represents a truly remarkable milestone, and I would like to once again congratulate PHC for celebrating its 50th anniversary this year,” added Dr Powell.
Following her speech, the guest of honour with others participated in a cake cutting ceremony marking the centre’s 50th anniversary, and later toured the exhibition set up at the event showcasing the changes the centre went through over the course of its 50-year history as well as photographs and information on former staff.
Dr Powell signed a plaque commemorating the centre’s 50th anniversary.
Besides holding various health promotion awareness campaigns and activities, the PHC also supports the MoH’s efforts in the Belait District by assisting the Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS) whenever required.
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