LAND has been secured for the relocation of the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
This has been planned due to issues pertaining to the hospital’s vulnerability of its current location.
Commissioner of Lands, Nelson Naopo confirmed that a piece of land has been secured at the Gilbert Camp area.
This is one of the policy priorities under the DCC Government – to relocate the National Referral Hospital.
Under this policy, an allocation of $500 million from the $1.7 billion budget of the Ministry of Health has been pledged for this cause.
World Health Organisation (WHO) states in its hospital safety index that; the NRH area is exposed to multiple natural hazards, including climate change, tropical cyclones, storm surge, river flooding, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.
It recommends the current hospital be relocated to a safer site, on higher ground away from the coast, and on higher ground that is not exposed to high tide or other geologic hazards.
The lands commissioner said the land at Gilbert Camp has been secured for this purpose and has already been acquired.
“The land’s title is now with government,” he confirms.
He said whilst all processes to acquiring the land has been completed, the government’s other responsibility now is to complete the payment for the land.
“The land costs $15 million and the government will slowly pay to the owner installment payments.
“There government only have to be committed with its installment payments to the owner.”
It is understood a relocation committee has been assigned to the task headed by its Chairman Dr Aaron Oritaemae.
By BRADFORD THEONOMI
