Dear Editor,
The nurses and staff of the Mabaruma Hospital in Region One are very much concerned about the completion of the new hospital.
At present the nurse’s hostel which is being occupied by the medical staff to execute their duties is in a deplorable condition.
They were told to use this building for only nine months in which time the new hospital will be finished. So far they have already occupied the nurse’s hostel for twenty-seven months and it is very difficult for them to be working under these severe conditions. The big question is when will the new hospital be completed so that the staff can work smoothly to serve this sub-region?

These are some of the constraints that are affecting the staff and patients: leaking roofs, rotten floor and toilets not in order. At present working conditions are not conducive. To make matters worse there is no constant electricity. Some people are saying that the fault lies with the Regional Democratic Council. I would like to make it clear this is not so. The new hospital has not been contracted by the Mabaruma Sub-Regional Tender Board. This contract was done by Central Govern-ment through the Ministry of Health. The Regional Democratic Council has no supervision, or contract binding it towards the completion of this building.
When this hospital has been completed and commissioned then it will be handed over to the Regional Demo-cratic Council who will then have to oversee the supervision of the hospital.

The workers are saying working under these constraints they cannot perform effectively.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Hope
Regional Democratic
Councillor,
Region 1 (Barima/Waini)
Editor’s note: A copy of this letter is being sent to the Ministry of Health for any comment it may wish to make.