Four main IGMH development projects underway

Four main projects are underway to renovate and develop Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the hospital's media coordinator Zeenath Ali Habeeb revealed at a press conference today.

“Four very important projects are underway. First is the renovation work. This is being carried out under a free grant by the Indian government. This is our first big renovation in 19 years,” Zeenath told reporters today.

The other three projects include the completion of an 11-storey annex building, expansion of the hospital's dialysis centre and upgrading the Vilingili health centre, which currently functions under IGMH.

“Second project is the 11-storey building. We are trying to complete the project and start services within the year. At the same time, work is ongoing to expand the existing dialysis centre to serve more patients, to establish a dialysis centre with the latest facilities. Similarly, we are trying to upgrade Vilingili health centre to a hospital,” said IGMH’s media coordinator.

Areas to see renovation include; the hospital wards and toilets, firefighting system and equipment, electricity grid, the hospital’s roof and ceiling, operation theatres, labour rooms, labour induction units and emergency service areas.

“For the past three months we’ve been having discussions with all the medical departments, the technical staff, maintenance teams and nurses, on the best way to carry out the renovation (without disruption to services),” Fayaz said, speaking at the press conference today. The gynecology ward, nursery and private wards have been shifted to the annex building to facilitate the renovation, he said.

Prompted if the hospital can handle a possible epidemic during the renovation period, Fayaz said, “Yes, we can handle it. We’ve done the numbers and its being done after discussion with everyone. We won't close down a large section and we’ve informed this to the contractor. The contractor wants to finish the largest area as soon as possible but we’ve addressed all these issues in our plans,” Fayaz said.

A gratis project by the Indian government, the IGMH renovation work is being carried out by Indian's state owned National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC Limited) for a sum of $10 million.