Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Reporter
THORNGROVE hospital’s Covid-19 isolation ward is expected to be fully operational mid next month with Bulawayo City Council officials revealing that rehabilitation works are now 95 percent complete.
Presenting a BCC service delivery update on Wednesday, the local authority’s deputy director of engineering services, Engineer Sikhumbuzo Ncube revealed considerable progress had now been done at the isolation ward while the overall renovation works of the entire hospital were at 35 percent.
“Turning to Thorngrove Hospital, rehabilitation works are at 35 percent but the Covid-19 isolation ward is almost complete with progress being at 95 percent and the completion date has been set for 15 September 2020.
“Our initial estimated costs for the entire works was $74 723 040 of which we received $33 000 000 from the Government. However, our current project costs have been now pegged at $127 267 000 of which we have a committed expenditure of $35 690 000 this thereby meaning we require additional funding of $94 270 000 for the entire hospital,” said Eng Ncube.
Among the works done to date include the extension of the main isolation ward by creation of disinfection rooms, changing rooms, dish wash rooms, linen rooms and a labour ward.
“All internal service roads within the facility have been resurfaced with tar, a new entrance and gate created, a walkway leading to staff rest rooms, the children’s isolation ward has been refurbished.
“Two boreholes have been drilled with one fitted to a JoJo tank, ablution facilities for children’s wards have been constructed, the ambulance wash bay, disinfection septic tank and the wheel and foot bath at the main entrance gate have all been completed,” said Eng Ncube.
Sidumisile Mabena