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Kuching and Sarawak

 

The state of Sarawak is the biggest state in Malaysia and covers an area of 125,000 sq. km. It has a population of 2,357,500 (2006 census). Most inhabitants live by the coast and rivers.

Kuching is the state capital and the biggest city in Sarawak. It is situated near the western point of Sarawak by the Sarawak River. It has a population of 435,000. The Eye Department in Kuching is the tertiary referral centre for ocular diseases. The staff in Kuching also make regular clinical visits and perform cataract surgery in Sri Aman.

 

Outside Kuching, only three government hospitals have eye department staffed by trained ophthalmologists. These are Miri, Sibu and Bintulu. The eye services in other hospitals are provided by medical assistants who are nurses trained to treat common eye conditions. Patients that could not be managed by medical assistants are referred to the ophthalmologists.

 

2006 Sarawak Census
Ethnic Group	Number	% of the population
Iban	682,400	28.9%
Chinese	601,200	25.5%
Malay	524,500	22.2%
Bidayuh	189,200	8%
Other indigenous population (Kelabit, Kayan etc)	133,500	5.7%
Melanaus	130,800	5.5%
Non-Malaysian	86,700	3.7%
Non-Sarawakian Malaysians	9,300	0.4%
Total population	2,357,500