$285M GPHC staff quarters commissioned
―Govt sees medical personnel as a priority – President Granger reaffirms
−Facility upgraded from 19 to 41 apartments
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, February 19, 2020
His Excellency, President David Granger, has commissioned the rehabilitated Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Staff Quarters.
The Head of State said that renovation of the staff quarters lends itself to more efficiency and effective service delivery from key personnel, especially doctors who are on call.
“Doctors, as the profession demands work on-call, and it is always desirable if they can reside somewhere, they would be able to respond more quickly to their calls. The staff quarters which we are dedicating today is just a short distance away from the GPHC and will make it easier for doctors to respond more quickly to emergencies,” he said.
The president noted that the quarters do not only cater to Doctors but other health staff as well.
The previously 19-apartment quarters at Waterloo and Quamina Streets now boasts 41 units; 16 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, and seven three-bedroom apartments.
Noting her satisfaction with the renovated quarters Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence said: “I am quite certain that with the new apartment building, facilitating ample placement and accommodation for our staff and also the Cuban medical brigade, the Ministry of Public Health and the citizens of Guyana, can look forward to the optimising of services in Georgetown and its environs.”
Rehabilitation of the complex cost some $282Million while the design and supervision totalled $3.5Million.
Kalitech Incorporated received the contract for the building’s redesign and supervision of construction while work on the complex was awarded in three parts.
In 2018, International Imports and Supplies began work on the northern block at a contract sum of $131.4Million, while A&N Enterprise worked on the southern block under a $100.8Million contract.
Memorex Enterprises was awarded a $50M contract to rehabilitate the Eastern Block last year.
Hospital CEO, Retd. Brigadier George Lewis said that with the rehabilitation of the living facilities, they could save some $20Million annually, the amount spent on rental and accommodation for staff, international consultants, and others who work at the hospital.