Maternal waiting home for Moruca this year

Jan 05, 2020 News

Construction of a maternal waiting home in Moruca, Region One, is slated to commence this year. It is expected to aid the improved delivery of health care offered to expectant mothers. This is according to Regional Health Officer [RHO] attached to the Region, Dr. Latchmie Lall.

Regional Engineer, Murwin Allison

Dr. Lall said that while the project had not yet been awarded, the engineer’s estimate is $40 million.
She is optimistic that once the National Procurement and Tender Board moves swiftly, the project will be awarded thereby allowing for works to commence.
“The engineer’s estimate has been completed and the last thing that I am aware of is that it was at the National Tender Board so we in Health Services are anxiously awaiting the award of this contract, so that work can commence as the residents are eager to have this home constructed,” she said.
The waiting home is expected to serve as a transition point for hinterland based pregnant women waiting to be delivered. It will contain 14 beds and other rooms to address several maternal related issues that these women could face, Dr. Lall shared.
The RHO said the construction of the home will further enhance health care. A number of women who are living in far flung communities usually encounter severe challenges when they are approaching their delivery dates.
The move to construct the home, she added, will ensure that the women can access a safe delivery as professional medical help will be readily available.
“This maternal and waiting home is important to Region One as we have had some deaths and other challenges over the years and it is our view that with the completion of the waiting home, it would certainly help with the delivery of our babies,” Dr. Lall said.
Calling the project an eagerly anticipated one, Regional Executive Officer [REO], Col. Randy Storm, said that the National Procurement and Tender Board is expected to award it shortly. He too is confident that the completion of the project will boost health care in the region.
“This is an important project for Region One and we are confident that it will boost health care within the region.
“This is an eagerly anticipated project for Region One and we are confident that a significant number of women will certainly benefit from this project,” the REO said.
Storm said, too, that the waiting home continues to be one of the region’s top 2020 priorities in terms of projects.
Another major project that is expected to be completed early this year is a conference hall. The hall is being constructed to the tune of $10.96M by Yahweh Conglomerate.
Engineer Murwin Allison said that the project is moving ahead nicely and thus far he is satisfied with the quality of work.
This project, the REO said, will indeed help to enhance and improve health care.
Dr. Lall in further commenting on the projects being undertaken said that they are crucial since the Mabaruma Hospital is looking to become a regional teaching hospital in 2020.
“Once we can put the necessary accommodations in place, we can have consultants and student residents coming at intervals to be a part of the Mabaruma Regional hospital. We also want to have our theatre up and functioning which will offer surgical services to the region,” Dr. Lall stressed.
The RHO said that plans are apace to have an Intensive Care Unit [ICU] established. This, she said, will increase the hospital’s capabilities in addressing increased medical challenges facing patients.
“We are also hoping that with approval from the Budget Committee, the ICU will be up and functional this year. We have recently completed a lab at Matthew’s Ridge [and] there is a district hospital, so we are looking to have an x-ray machine coming there and a number of other small services being provided in the Matarkai sub-district,” the RHO said.
Dr. Lall said too that the Port Kaituma Regional Hospital should be completed shortly; adding that once this is done the hospital staff would be able to occupy the new facility.