…but GPHC overhaul on holdBy Desilon DanielsMonths after the sod was turned for a $263M expansion of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) maternity ward, it is now all systems go, says Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton.During an interview with Kaieteur News, Minister Norton indicated that not only was the government-funded initiative on track but that he is receiving weekly reports on its progress.The maternity ward expansion was launched under the then governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in mid-March. According to former Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, the project had been embarked upon due to the high demand of the GPHC’s maternity facilities. About 60 percent of the country’s babies are born at the hospital.According to Norton, no changes had been made to the initial setup of the project. He added that, from all indications received in the weekly reports, things had been progressing smoothly. He said too that he has been in constant contact with the GPHC Chief Executive Officer, Michael Khan.Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton“Right now things are full steam ahead,Wholesale China Jerseys,” Norton said, before continuing,Cheap Jerseys China, “I want to be kept informed because I believe that it was a little strange that they [the PPP government] would have gone into such a big project so close to elections. So, that is why our interest has always been there, my own in particular, and I’m keeping a keen eye on what is happening with this particular project.”He explained that the weekly reports have been detailed with even drawings being presented to him. “I am pleased with the progress thus far,” he added.He said that under the past administration there was not much to “base our full confidence in” and therefore he will continue to insist on having the weekly reports.The $263M project will result in an additional 40 beds in the maternity wing. The ground floor will also be remodeled with training rooms, offices, a neonatal clinic and Doctors’ On Call Rooms while two operating rooms, the birthing room and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on the top floor will be included.The expansion is the largest ever rehabilitation of the building and will be completed by PD Contracting with design and supervision by KALITECH Inc. The project began on February 16 of this year. It is expected to be completed by February 14, 2016.Meanwhile,Cheap Jerseys China, while things seem to be progressing smoothly for the planned expansion,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, the same cannot be said for the proposed overhaul of the GPHC.During the APNU+AFC’s election campaign, an overhaul of the GPHC had been touted by the party as a significant area in enhancing the health sector.However,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, though Minister Norton indicated that the proposal is still on the table, he admitted that it had been stalled due to a number of circumstances.According to him, the establishment and current use of some of the hospital’s important areas have stalled any overhaul.Specifically noting the establishment of a CAT lab which had been undertaken by the previous administration, Norton indicated that he had been unaware that this had been ongoing.“That whole area was something new to me because I didn’t know so much was being done. Actually, in the budget presentation that the Ministry made – that is, in the past government – it was said to be the renovation of the High Dependency Unit (HDU) when in reality it was not that; it was the creation of this specialized area for the CAT lab,” Norton explained.He said this information only became known to him after he acquired his new portfolio and posed a number of questions to hospital officials. He said too that the overhaul was being stalled by the creation of a new pediatric ward at the GPHC. Additionally, other programs such as the Baby Heart Foundation surgeries have contributed to the stall. Under the Baby Heart Foundation,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, an intensive care unit was set up for patients who were operated on by visiting teams.The proposed overhaul of the central hospital had been touted by both Minister Norton and Minister within the Ministry Dr. Karen Cummings. The two had said that a strategic and comprehensive approach was needed to address the numerous issues plaguing the health facility.