Dear Editor,
With reference to a letter captioned, ‘Mabaruma Hospital staff working under deplorable conditions’ (SN 21.10.08), the Ministry of Health shares the concerns of the nurses and staff regarding the delay in the completion of the Mabaruma Hospital, Region One, which is responsible for the less than favourable conditions under which nurses and staff are made to work.

A new hospital is currently being constructed under the GOGI Basic Needs project, but there have been some delays in construction due to requests for additional funds by the contractor, which are being addressed.

The Ministry regrets the inconvenience this delay has caused and wishes to state that everything possible is being done to bring some relief to the nurses and staff.

A meeting with the Permanent Secretary and regional officials was held on Friday last during which a number of initiatives were discussed.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Health