District hospital gets K5 million for renovations

EASTERN Highlands’ Okapa is getting a new hospital after local MP Saki Soloma made a payment for steel housing materials in Lae on Friday. “The old hospital is condemned and no longer usable,” he said. “The new hospital will house a rural health facility, two wards, an ablution block and an incinerator.” Soloma, who is also Energy and Rural Infrastructure Minister, said the hospital project was funded through the Government’s nationwide rollout programme to upgrade rural hospitals and Okapa was given K5 million for the hospital. “We are looking forward to have the project completed within six months,” he said. “I was advised by the Health Department that Atlas Steel was offering good steel building materials and buildings, so we decided to try it. “After this one, we will look at building a couple of other buildings in the district using steel materials.” Soloma said the K5mil for the hospital had been there since 2018, but the project was delayed because they had to go through some processes, negotiations and get approval from the Health Department. “The colonial hospital will be pulled down,” he said.  “It is rundown with no water. It is a relief for me and the people in the district and I believe Atlas Steel will have the project completed within the time frame.” He added that the money left over would be used for associated costs such as logistics, procurement and contractors.