CONSTRUCTION work at three Isolation Units funded by the World Bank’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Project through the Project Management Unit (PMU) within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is progressing well and is expected to be completed soon.
The Isolation Units are part of the upgrading of isolation facilities in areas bordering Papua New Guinea such as Nila, in Shortland islands of the Western Province, the Good Samaritan Hospital in Guadalcanal Province and the Helana Goldie Hospital also in the Western Province.
The aim of the facilities are to prepare for future pandemics.
In total, the 3 isolation units are worth around SBD$16.8 million.
The PMU Infrastructure Officer Jonathan Bisili described the building concept as basically a standard 4-bedroom self-contained room Isolation Unit design with metal prefabricated building structures on raised concrete foundations.
The Plan layouts are initially designed for COVID Isolation purposes and can cater for any pandemic outbreaks in the future.
During a recent round of site inspections and monitoring by the PMU team at the Nila Area Health Center, Helena Goldie Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital, the respective Site Supervisors presented progress reports of the Isolation Units
Helana Goldie Hospital Isolation Unit Site Supervisor Simon Binet stated that the isolation unit is expected to be completed by mid-November.
He said his team have completed putting up roofing sheets and installation of door frames.
However, Mr Binet added that his team has gone behind schedule due to unexploded ordnances (UXOs) work at the site and further to the UXO, was the bad weather condition in the past months.
Nila Hospital Isolation Unit Site Supervisor Mathew Hagi outlined that his team have completed the installation external wall claddings and are working on the installation of internal wall linings.
“Plumbing and Electrical installations have also successfully completed by the team, and by this month the isolation unit will complete,” Mr Hagi said.
Good Samaritan Hospital Site Supervisor Richard Gale has also outlined that his team have completed installing external wall claddings and are now working on internal wall and ceiling linings.
By the end of November, the three isolation units are expected to be practically completed, according to the PMU Project Manager Harry Kereseka.
“Despite a few small unforeseen lags alone the way, the three units’ work schedules are currently on track and the PMU is generally pleased with the progress and anticipates completing the project within the time-frame,” Mr Kereseka said.
The isolation units are part of ongoing crucial developments towards health preparedness and will greatly assist the Ministry to ease the surge in demand for health care services and general operating capacity across the country’s health facilities.
- MHMS
