108 schools in Serian Division have been temporarily closed after the Air Pollutant Index (API) crossed 200. The closure covers schools in the Serian area, including six in Tebedu. Home-based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) will continue during the closure. As of 4pm on Aug 12, API readings were 202 in Serian and 212 in Tebedu. Kuching and Samarahan were among 11 other Sarawak areas recording unhealthy readings between 101 and 200. State authorities said the haze may continue over the next few days, partly due to transboundary smoke from Kalimantan. Children, older people, pregnant women and those with respiratory or heart conditions are advised to limit outdoor activities when air quality is unhealthy. Location: Serian Division, Sarawak Details: Schools will reopen based on the latest API readings and official instructions. Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2026/08/12/108-schools-in-serian-division-temporarily-closed-as-api-exceeds-200/ What do you think? Photo: The Borneo Post

A 14-year-old Sarawak deaf table tennis gold medallist may miss her next step because her cochlear implant processor keeps failing. [image: 1785729955161-celynn_20260803.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post Celynn Ho won the women's singles gold medal at the first Malaysian Deaf Table Tennis Championship in Ipoh last month. She is now due to represent Malaysia at the Asia Pacific Deaf Multi-Sport Championships 2026 in Penang from Oct 3 to 10. Her mother Rita Bong said the biggest problem now is the cost of replacing Celynn's faulty cochlear implant processor. A new one could cost around RM90,000. Bong said the device matters not only for school, but also for training, because Celynn relies on it to communicate with coaches and teammates. Key Details Location: Kuching / Padawan Details: Celynn is a Form 2 student at Chung Hua Middle School No. 1. Those who want to know more can contact Bong at 012-8886366, as listed by The Borneo Post. Source: The Borneo Post What do you think?

Update, Aug 14: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof successfully underwent heart bypass surgery at the National Heart Institute and was reported to be in stable condition during recovery. [image: 1785729898539-fadillah_20260803.jpg] File photo: DayakDaily His office first announced on Aug 3 that the Petra Jaya MP would undergo the procedure on the advice of his specialist team. He was asked to rest fully and avoid visitors so treatment and recovery could proceed without disruption. A later statement said the surgery was performed at IJN on Aug 12 and was successful. Fadillah and his family thanked the medical team and the public for their support. Why this update is included The original version of this post only said surgery was planned. Leaving it unchanged would make an old medical update look current and incomplete. The latest confirmed public status available from the cited reports is that the procedure was successful and he was stable while recovering. No recovery timetable or confirmed date for returning to full duties was included in those statements. Personal medical details beyond what the family or his office releases should not be speculated about. Fadillah, 63, is Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, and Member of Parliament for Petra Jaya. Hospital: National Heart Institute (IJN), Kuala Lumpur 🩺 Latest cited status: Surgery successful; stable during recovery as of Aug 14 Sources: Initial Aug 3 statement · Aug 14 recovery update · IJN

Sarawak is putting RM300 million into a new biomedical research laboratory, with Kuching hosting the announcement today. [image: 1785405846518-biomed-lab.jpg] Photo: DayakDaily Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the lab is meant to strengthen health research, biotechnology and precision medicine in Sarawak. His speech was delivered by Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng at the 19th ASEAN Conference of Clinical Laboratory Sciences in Kuching on July 30. Why it matters The State wants the facility to support work on new medicines, future disease readiness and international research partnerships. Dr Sim also linked the plan to Sarawak's wider healthcare push, including the RM1 billion Sarawak Cancer Centre and the digitalisation of more than 150 primary healthcare facilities through the Cloud-Based Clinic Management System. Location: Kuching, Sarawak Details: RM300 million biomedical research laboratory; health research, biotechnology and precision medicine focus Source: DayakDaily What do you think?

MBKS wants to bring mobile health screening into schools across Kuching South, focusing on staff, teachers and parents. [image: 1785114344953-mbks_health_school-resized.jpg] Image source: The Borneo Post Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the programme is meant to help people detect health problems earlier, especially those who often put work and family ahead of check-ups. The latest Health Screening Programme 4.0 was held at the basement of Song Kheng Hai Food Court, with support from the Lions Club and Diabetes Malaysia. MBKS had earlier carried out similar outreach in Kenyalang and Bintawa. Why Song Kheng Hai Wee said Song Kheng Hai was chosen because it is close to the KMC flats, where many B40 residents live. He said MBKS will continue moving the service around the Kuching South area so more people can access basic screening and consultation. The programme also involves volunteers, including retired medical professionals and younger Leo Club members. Location: Song Kheng Hai Food Court, Kuching South Details: MBKS mobile health screening; schools next; focus on early detection for school staff, teachers and parents. Source: The Borneo Post What do you think?

SGH handled 2,975 ventilated patients last year, up from nearly 2,300 in 2020. [image: 1785027843706-sgh_critical_care.png] Source: DayakDaily Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching is seeing heavier pressure in critical care. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the rise shows Sarawak needs to keep building hospital capacity so seriously ill patients can get proper care. The figure came up at the Sarawak Critical Care Conference 2026 in Kuching on July 25. SGH's Medical Critical Care Unit is now a 13-bed facility focused mainly on critically ill medical patients. Conference organising chairperson Dr Rachel Chin Wei Ven said critical care depends on a full team, from doctors and nurses to pharmacists, physiotherapists and support staff. Location: Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching Details: 2,975 ventilated patients in 2025, compared with nearly 2,300 in 2020 Source: https://dayakdaily.com/critical-care-demand-rises-as-sgh-ventilated-patient-numbers-near-3000/ What do you think?

A 52-year-old Bidayuh man from Bau has been identified with one of the world's rarest blood types. [image: 1784682372695-bau-bombay-blood.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post / Facebook, Blood Bank Hospital Umum Sarawak The Sarawak General Hospital Blood Bank said Mak Nyortes from Kampung Bogag, Bau, has the rare Bombay blood group, also known as the hh phenotype. He only found out in November 2025 after blood tests and further checks at the hospital. Why this blood type is different People with the Bombay blood group may look like type O in routine screening, but they cannot receive blood from A, B, AB or O donors. They can only receive blood from another person with the same Bombay blood group. That is why proper screening and donor registration matter so much. The SGH Blood Bank said about 20 people in Malaysia have been identified with this blood group. Worldwide, around four million people are believed to have it. Mak hopes his story will encourage more people to understand blood donation, go for proper screening, and help when there is a need. Location: Kampung Bogag, Bau Details: Rare Bombay blood group identified by SGH Blood Bank Hot Score: 24/30 Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2026/07/22/bidayuh-man-in-bau-identified-with-rare-bombay-blood-type/ What do you think?