Construction work on a new Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH) project in Ntabankulu has begun in earnest and was marked by a sod turning ceremony yesterday.
Major earth and civil works construction is already underway as building is about to start at the Sipetu District Hospital where a new hospital facility is planned.
“This hospital marks the Eastern Cape Department of Health’s dedication to service delivery and providing decent health services to our people,” said Eastern Cape MEC for Health, Sicelo Gqobana.
“Why do we care so much about people’s needs that we should decide to change the lives of the poor for the better? It’s because hospitals are not visited by robots but human beings, hence we are doing our best to change those lives.
“The upgrading of the hospital involves a number of construction phases that will be executed over a period of time so as to achieve the final objective of having a hospital that includes new staff accommodation.”
With a total of over 12 000m² of new floor area to be constructed, this will stand as a state-of-the art medical facility.
“The Department of Health is investing about R320-million in the Sipetu District Hospital project, which will roll out in five phases. We are particularly excited as the hospital will service the 140 000 or so people living in the Ntabankulu area and bring world-class infrastructure directly to them,” the Gqobana added.
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is the implementing agent on the Sipetu District Hospital project, one of 14 Eastern Cape-wide hospital building projects the CDC is working on for the ECDOH.
Phase 1, already underway, sees preparatory works being made such as platforms for the new hospital buildings and the installation of the new bulk services. Some dilapidated buildings will also be demolished to make way for the new structure.
“New park home type houses will be provided to accommodate staff, as a result of demolishment works in Phase 1. This phase should take roughly six-and-a-half months to complete,” said CDC ECDOH project manager Sipho Kuhlase.
Phase 2 and 3 include the construction works to the main hospital buildings and the hospital services block, taking about 30 months and 18 months respectively, but due to be completed around the same time.
“The construction roll out of the phases has been structured such that the completion works of all the phases that make up the hospital conclude concurrently, so as to ensure that commissioning of the whole hospital takes place simultaneously,” said Kuhlase.
Phase 4 incorporates the construction of the ward blocks. Four ward blocks have been designed to accommodate beds and include a general TB ward. In Phase 5 the existing hospital building will be refurbished and converted to provide staff accommodation. Additional new housing is being planned for inclusion in this phase.
“The design and development of the hospital upgrade is at an advance stage, with Phase 2 expected to go out on tender in March 2014,” Kuhlase added.
Alan Straton
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