CONSTRUCTION work on a second health centre in Isa Town is progressing well, it has been declared.
Health Ministry engineering and maintenance director Mohammed Al Qahtani said the BD2 million facility, the 23rd in Bahrain, would serve a population of 35,000 and be capable of handling more than 1,000 patients a day.
“Work is on schedule and is expected to be completed by the middle of next year,” he told the GDN.
“The centre will be ready to receive patients by October next year.”
Mr Al Qahtani said the centre would have 13 clinics, as well as specialised sections for nursing, health records, laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, school health, maternity and health education.
“Eighty employees will be working at the facility, which will complement the facilities already existing in the area,” he said.
Health centres director Seema Zainal said the two-storey structure would have parking spaces for 225 cars, including reserved spots for people with special needs.
“There will also be a cafeteria, a guard room, an ambulance station and a room to house a generator in case of a sudden power cut,” she said.
Ms Zainal said the centre would cost BD2m, contain equipment worth another million and cost BD2m annually to run.
“We are now in discussions with the Civil Services Bureau to hire staff for the facility,” she said.
“It has to have more people because it will offer services in the morning and evening for residents of a part of Isa Town and Salmabad.”
Another five health centres across Bahrain will be up and running by early next year, Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer has confirmed.
They are part of a plan to expand the country’s health services to cope with the growing population, he told the GDN during a visit to American Mission Hospital on Wednesday.
Several new hospitals will also be built with A’ali, Isa Town, Riffa, Jaw and Askar in need of more facilities.
Gulf Daily