By Saskia Warrick | November 5, 2024
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has called on contractors to expedite the construction of Guyana’s first maternal and pediatric hospital, located in Ogle, East Coast Demerara.
During a site visit on Monday, the President expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the project and warned contractors that failure to meet deadlines could result in liquidity damages.
The 256-bed Level Five hospital spans 24,000 square meters and will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including a specialized imaging suite with CT, X-ray, and MRI capabilities.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony highlighted additional services such as 24-hour accident and emergency care and advanced operating theatres, including one dedicated to cardiac surgeries.
President Ali stressed the importance of ramping up workforce efforts and conducting simultaneous construction activities to meet the critical project deadlines.
The structural frame is nearing completion; however, the contractor’s projection of completing internal works by October next year was deemed unacceptable by the Head of State.
Minister Anthony also revealed that training programs for hospital staff are already underway, preparing personnel to provide comprehensive pediatric and maternal care.
This project is the first initiative resulting from a 2018 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and Austria, with funding facilitated by the UK Export Credit Agency.