-contractor urged to provide quality work

REGION Two tuberculosis patients will soon enjoy a better and more comfortable environment when accessing treatment as the regional administration has facilitated the signing of a multimillion-dollar contract for the construction of a tuberculosis and family Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) building at the Suddie Public Hospital.

The contract was awarded to Manboadhram Sukhai of M Sukhai Contracting Service for $27,941,850 and construction is expected to commence in seven days.

Speaking to key stakeholders at a simple signing ceremony held on Friday, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Devanand Ramdatt, said the project was awarded through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and will be overlooked by the regional administration.

He called on the contractor to ensure that he delivers quality work. Approval for the project was granted by Cabinet.

“We want to do this openly, we want to have value for public funds and we want to ensure the public is aware of activities and projects that are implemented. The bill of quantities will be shared with beneficiaries,” Ramdatt said.

He also said the project will be monitored closely by the Regional Health Officer and also the staff who will be utilising the building.

According to the region’s engineer, Kawan Suchit, the building will be a two-storey reinforced concrete building with a dimension of 25 feet wide by 60 feet long. It will consist of a waiting area, an observation room, a radiology department, pathology department, an eye clinic and washroom facilities. The upper flat, he said, will have consultation rooms to accommodate staff members and patients.

The regional engineer said that the project has a duration period of four months.

Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer, Dr. Ranjeev Singh, said the building, when completed, will replace the cramped location that exists at the Suddie Public Hospital. He said that the building will provide a more conducive environment for tuberculosis patients and staff members will have more space and ventilated rooms to treat TB patients.

He said the current building is too cramped for staff members to operate in. He pledged his support in working along with the contractor to ensure that the building is built according to the specifications.

The building, when completed, will also facilitate a TB clinic. According to Dr. Singh, patients have to join the outpatient at Suddie Public Hospital and that can be risky for other patients around them.

He, therefore, commended the efforts of the Government of Guyana for awarding such a beneficial project for the region, as it will minimise the spread of tuberculosis by ensuring that there is adequate space for treating patients.

Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, called on the contractor to deliver quality work and she said that the project will be monitored to ensure that it is built according to contract specifications.

The contract was signed in the presence of De Silva, Dr. Singh, Suchit, Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Suanna Saywack; Prime Minister Representative, Arnold Adams, and Yagesh Sasenaryan, who is a staff member of the TB clinic.