Health
Minister, Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh last Friday presided over the awarding of a
D9, 415,000 dalasi contract for the refurbishment of Essau District Hospital to
Mansa Construction at a ceremony held at the hospital complex.
Dr
Samateh awarded the contract to Mansa Construction with an agreement that work
will last for seven months.
He
said the hospital has been struggling over the years to refer patients to
Banjul coupled with the ferry crossing problems, adding that it needs to be
upgraded to ease the referral to Edward Francis Small Teaching hospital.
He
strongly advised the contractor to provide standard and quality work at the
site noting that quality will not be compromised adding that the main reason
for him coming with his Senior Management Team from Banjul is to make it very
clear to the contractor to adhere to the agreement with the Ministry.
Health
minister Samateh revealed that four contracts have been also signed with
contractors, including the upgrading of N health post in the Central River Region,
renovation of a dialysis centre at Bansang General Hospital and Wuli Kerewan in
the Upper River region, noting that the sites would be handed to the
contractors during the course of the week.
“We
want to things to be better in the country and the only way we can do that is
to always provide quality service” he asserted.
Dr Samateh also seized the opportunity to
thank UNFPA for their support towards the construction of the Theatre and one
of the staff quarters at the hospital which is already completed.
Matarr
Jeng, National Assembly Member for Lower Nuimi urged the contractor to ensure
that quality work is done at the hospital for posterity and to make sure that
amount given for the work commensurate with the level of work, noting that this
is the expectation from him upon completion of work at the site.
Mansa
Construction representative assured the minister that they will provide
standard and quality service for the refurbishment of the Essau District
hospital as expected.