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Health Ministry struggles with space

Oct 06, 2009 News

Approximately two months after fire destroyed the main office of the Ministry of Health, Brickdam, the Ministry is still struggling with a space issue.

This is according to Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who noted that despite the space constraint, his Ministry is still able to function effectively.

At present, Minister Ramsammy and his immediate staff which amounts to 22 persons are housed in a small office in one of the three buildings left standing in the Health Ministry’s compound on Hadfield Street.

“So we do have space constraints but we all have a place from which we can work,” Minister Ramsammy said.

While all departments of the Ministry have been relocated, Minister Ramsammy explained that there has been dislocation where some departments that are supposed to be close by are located in different buildings.

This is currently the case with the personnel department, which cannot be located in the Ministry of Health’s compound at present. “And you will always need the personnel, administration and finance departments to be in one place; so that’s a struggle for us.”

However, Dr. Ramsammy noted that construction is ongoing for the building which will house the personnel department in the Health Ministry compound by next year.

“But we are managing and we have been able to continue our work… We’ve been able to keep apace with our work plan for this year with little evidence of disruption.”

Meanwhile, the Health Minister lauded the many sacrifices made by his staff, who kept their faith throughout the entire ordeal.

“How longer they can sustain that is a huge area of concern for me. There comes a time when they will not be able to do.”

Meanwhile, as it relates to the data that were lost during the fire, it was noted that the Health Ministry is currently in the process of itemising what were lost.

This, Minister Ramsammy said, is part of the reconstruction plan of the medium term interventions by the Health Ministry.

Records such as applications for nursing training, and persons seeking assistance for overseas treatment, were destroyed in the fire.

In order to rectify this situation, the Ministry has urged persons to reapply for the nursing training.

The medical assistance records were saved in a back up computer system in another building.

On July 17, last, a fire which was caused by arson destroyed Dr. Ramsammy’s office, that of his Permanent Secretary, the administration and finance departments, the Chief Medical Office and the adolescent health and chronic diseases departments.

The annex, the medical council and the pharmacy council registry and nursery council were also damaged.

The adolescent health department has been relocated at the NAPS building, while the Personnel department is now at GUYHOC building.

The office of the Chief Medical Officer, the Junior Health Minister and the Permanent Secretary has been relocated to the Annex buildings within the burnt complex. Some offices have also been placed at the blood bank.

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