Friday, January 12, 2018– Elderly homes on Tortola and Virgin Gorda will soon undergo emergency repairs to their structures which sustained extensive damage following the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The repair works are being funded by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Health Emergency Department and will seek to achieve Smart Healthcare Facilities standards thereby reducing operating costs and making the facilities safer for residents and staff.
A contract was awarded to Quality Construction Ltd. by the Pan American Health Organisation on December 18, 2017 in the amount of $292,607.78. The monies will finance repairs to the roof of the building as well as other structural and non-structural components, resulting in increased energy efficiency and bed space.
A second contract was awarded to Construction Engineering Systems Ltd. on January 5 in the amount of $95,457.51 to address similar repairs to the Virgin Gorda Elderly Home.
In addition to the contracts issued to local contractors, PAHO has agreed to purchase building material in the amount of $76,019.32 from a local supplier, and provide equipment and supplies for both facilities. The organisation’s contributions to the Ministry of Health’s Recovery Action Plan are expected to total 1 million dollars.
Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton said the Government of the Virgin Islands was pleased to receive the support from PAHO and explained that the elderly homes had been given priority to receive urgent attention.
Honourable Skelton said, “The residents [of nursing homes] are some of the most vulnerable and we urgently appealed for assistance to ensure that they remained safe. I want to thank Dr. Dana van Alphen [Regional Advisor for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief] and her team for their efforts and I look forward to seeing the results of both projects.”
PAHO’s Principal Consultant Ronnie Lettsome is overseeing the works to ensure they meet the required standards for safety in the structural and nonstructural elements.
The works on both facilities are expected to be completed by end of February 2018.
