New DPH building unveiled

Government officials and employees led by Gov. Juan N. Babauta participated yesterday in the topping off ceremony that officially unveiled the soon-to-be completed new facility of the Department of Public Health in Garapan.

The ceremonial topping off allowed guests and visitors to witness the progress of the much awaited complex that will house at least eight major offices and departments.

Babauta and Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider led the ceremonial activity together with other public health officials and staff.

Babauta said the CNMI has come a long way in providing health care to its community members. He thanked the Legislature for assisting in allocating appropriate funds for the redesign of the new facility.

Hofschneider said he stands corrected when he said earlier that the new facility is 80 percent of the size of the current hospital. He said they made a miscalculation and learned that the new facility has only 70 percent of the size. He said the building has an area of 60,000 square feet.

He said the expansion project would open up more space in the current hospital complex for an expanded Medical Lab, Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit, and Staff Development and Education office.

The DPH secretary added that the Medicaid office might be moved from Capitol Hill, “so that the poor in our community can easily access the program and receive medical care in one location here at CHC.”

He also said the project would allow them to upgrade their chapel.

Department of Public Works Secretary Juan S. Reyes said that, despite the difficulty they encountered with the previous contractor, Leo A. Daly, the project is now almost finished. He said previous the contractor was uncooperative and had put the government agencies in a difficult situation.

Reyes commended the assistance given by the Legislature and asked lawmakers to also look at the possibility of assisting the public hospital in renovating the old building.

Hofschneider said the hospital is also considering hiring new personnel for the new facility but they would start with moving and reassigning some staff from the old building to the new one. He said the new facility would be open for public service in summer next year.

Hofschneider recalled in his speech that in 2003 the construction began but corrective measures had to be accomplished along the way due to some design deficiencies and some post-9/11 concerns.

The measures included upgrading the air handling system, additional hemodialysis stations, expansion of the parking lot, upgrading of the water supply and treatment systems, upgrade in the medical air system and finishing of the first floor plus fixture, furniture and equipment.

Acting House Speaker Timothy Villagomez and other members of the Legislature, CIP advisor Charles Jordan, press secretary Peter Callaghan, and other government officials, volunteer groups, and private sector officials attended the event.