UNDER CONSTRUCTION: New national hospital at Moto’otua

By Tupuola Terry Tavita

The China-Samoa development partnership has given the go-ahead on the second phase of the national hospital infrastructure development at Moto’otua.

This follows the signing earlier this year of an agreement between the two governments worth RMB205,000,000 (WST76,638,000). Shanghai Construction has again been contracted to carry out this final phase.

According to National Health Services chief executive Leota Laki Sio, the second phase will encompass the construction of the accidents and emergency unit, specialist clinics, hospital administration and an operational plant.

“The main infrastructure will be a three-storey building – complete with lifts and ramps – that will house the emergency unit and administration offices.

“That building will be located at where the dental clinic is right now.�?

Nearing completion, he said, is twin two storey wards offering 250 beds – though it can be remodeled to provide up to 300.

The new hospital will include a new morgue, pediatrics and orthopedics clinic, a rehabilitation unit, a renal unity, a laundry and kitchen building, an IT unit, a backup generator plant, cafeterias and many other features present in modern hospitals.

“The IT component is an integral part in terms of carrying out complex surgeries using online technology. It is also important in terms of the fact that it will be teaching hospital for the Oceania University of Medicine.

“Of course the infrastructure will also include labs, conference rooms and lecture theatres.�?

Clinical Health, he added, is also working on the necessary time schedules – which involves bringing in overseas specialists, medical teams, nurses and private doctors – to ensure that the hospital will provide standard quality service.

“We will also have strict hygiene and sanitation requirements and strict visitation hours with only professional caregivers allowed in the wards in regulation hours. People coming and going at all hours and bedding down with patients overnight are one of the major problems with had in the past. The wards will also have specific visitation rooms where patients can be wheeled to and meet visiting families and friends.�?

Now nearing completion, the new outpatient building, Leota said, is scheduled to open later this year.

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