VIJAYAWADA: The construction works of additional accommodation for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) block, which commenced around two months ago on the premises of old Government General Hospital (GHH), is going on at a slow pace.
At the time of the commencement of construction, officials had announced that it should be complete within a year. However, as the earthworks for the block are still underway, patients say there seem to be no hope of completion of construction before 15 months.
According to old GGH officials, because of availability of maternal services, patients from neighbouring districts such as West Godavari and Khammam throng the hospital for treatment. Over the years, the number of patients has increased gradually, forcing the administration to allot two patients to one bed at the same time. In October 2017, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made a surprise visit to the GGH and inspected the facilities offered to the patients. He had expressed his displeasure over the facilities provided at the MCH ward, and directed the health department officials to design proposals for constructing an additional block to provide better medical care to patients. To put an end to the perennial problem, the State Government even sanctioned `18 crore in December 2017 for the construction.
The task was entrusted to Andhra Pradesh Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation, and the then existing pulmonology and radiology blocks were demolished to realise the project on the Old GGH premises. On September 5 this year, its foundation stone was laid, and a target to complete the works by December 2019 was set.
Speaking to TNIE on Tuesday, Executive Engineer G Praveen Raj said that earthworks have been completed and footing works will commence shortly. The MCH block will have a total of 120 beds, with units of gynaecology and paediatric wards. When asked to comment on the slow pace of works, the EE said the reason was the difficulty workers faced in executing the footing works after demolishing the earlier structure.
Due to lack of space on the hospital premises, dug-up sand had to be shifted to New GGH, and construction materials were also stored there, he said. Police also denied permission for construction vehicles to ply on city roads during daytime. Permission was granted recently and the works will now be completed in the stipulated time period, he added.