Residents of Kagman will have to wait a while longer before their new health center becomes operational following the decision of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. to move the target opening to January 2013.
The Kagman Community Health Center was supposed to open on Oct. 1, pursuant to the requirement of the federal government that it must open 120 days after its creation is approved.
Roxanne Diaz, director for the Public Health Division, said the corporation-being the expenditure authority of the grant-asked for an extension on the opening date because the renovation work on the old detention facility in Kagman II is not yet done.
Cost of the renovation is $100,000, according to Diaz, and the bidding process is now ongoing.
“We we're given an approval to extend the service date to January so renovation project will be completed,” Diaz said.
The corporation was awarded a $608,333 grant by the Health Resources and Services Administration in June to build the new health center. To avail of the grant, the corporation committed to a matching share for its operations.
It will serve as a wellness, prevention, and primary care center and will be run by an independent board of directors, headed by chair James Lizama.
Diaz told Saipan Tribune that three key personnel have already been hired for the new center: the executive director, business manager, and an administrative assistant.
Vince Castro was named executive director, while interim director for medical affairs is Dr. Daniel Lamar.
Staffing for other positions has yet to be finalized. Based on the initial plan for the new center, 14 personnel will to be stationed there.
Because of the many changes that have happened since 2010, Diaz said there's a need to reorganize and refocus priorities in terms of staffing.
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