Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Johanne Prosper
Published on 2024-04-12 16:00:33
The New Flacq Hospital will be operational in three to four months, around July/August. This was announced by the Minister of Health, Kailesh Jagutpal, during a visit to the hospital. Impressive in size, the new hospital, located in Constance, covers an area of 94,250 square meters and is equipped with modern facilities. It will offer around forty necessary healthcare services.
“The time has come to operationalize the hospital, construction of which began in 2020,” stated Kailesh Jagutpal. The project, costing more than Rs 2.6 billion, will serve no less than 200,000 people in the region. “We have reached the service stage. We must be able to offer patients a more sophisticated and precise service. The caregiver-patient relationship is very important to us, and the service must match the building,” he continued. He further explained that at this stage, two out of the six floors of the hospital are ready. For the others, “we are waiting for equipment, furniture, etc., and this takes time.”
Patients from the Bruno Cheong Hospital, the current hospital in Flacq – which, interestingly, was established in 1922 and served as a care center for people with tuberculosis at the time – will be transferred to the New Flacq Hospital. The authorities hope for a smooth transition.
The Bruno Cheong Hospital will primarily serve as a medication storage facility, while an Autism Center and an Ayurvedic center will be established there. “In addition, a part of the building will be handed over to the Ministry of Social Security,” the Health Minister explained. As for the medical staff, the Minister explained that the New Flacq Hospital will start with the existing staff, with additional recruits to be made gradually.
Responding to a question from the press regarding the payment of overtime hours for some employees, Kailesh Jagutpal confirmed that they will receive their dues. “This process takes time, especially in terms of administration. But all these people will receive their salaries.”
The Minister of Blue Economy and Member of Parliament for Flacq/Bon-Accueil (No 9), Sudheer Maudhoo, expressed his satisfaction and relief “to see the hospital operational after so many years of waiting.” As for the Technology Minister Deepak Balgobin, he listed the advantages of this new hospital, which includes a parking lot with 535 spaces. “Moreover, we have also made arrangements to build a train station next to the hospital to allow Mauritians to benefit from the services of the New Flacq Hospital,” he said.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
