Anse Royale hospital set to open next month |16 March 2011

Building work has now finished, and a delegation from the Ministry of Health led by Minister Erna Athanasius, and from the Chinese embassy headed by Ambassador Wang Weiguo, paid a visit on Monday,Dr Anthanasius was accompanied by her principal secretary Hélène Maïche, as well as senior staff members.

The Chinese contractor is now installing the hospital equipment, all provided under the same grant totalling around R40 million. At the same time landscaping work is being done on the grounds.

The hospital has three wards – one for children with three rooms and a play area; a female ward having two rooms with two beds and two rooms with four beds; and a male ward with similar facilities.

There is also a rehabilitation and physiotherapy room, which will offer acupuncture treatment among its services.

The new hospital will also have a labour room – a service that was available in the past and will again be open to people in the region.

The Anse Royale health centre will also have an accident and emergency unit with a special treatment room and its own reception. An operating theatre and X-ray facilities will also be available.

Although the hospital will offer all these services, referred cases will still need to be sent to Seychelles Hospital at Mont Fleuri for specialised care and treatment.

Anse Royale hospital is expected to open its doors to patients as soon as the official handover by the Chinese government has been made and the necessary documents signed, which is expected to be next month.

Once all staff have been moved to the new hospital, major renovation work will be done on the old Anse Royale health centre, which will in future provide services such as family planning and dental care.