The Department of Health Alternative Care Facility, consisting of two buildings constructed behind the Tafuna Community health Center, was blessed and dedicated this morning.
Each building has ten rooms, a dining facility and kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms.
Consruction of the buildings was spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic to house those needing to be quarantined.
According to DOH Director Motusa Tuileama Nua they will also be used to take care of elderly patients when they are discharged from the hospital but not quite ready to move to their homes.
Director of Public Works Faleosina Voigt said the two buildings cost $2.5 million and the contractors were Paramount Builders and Nana’s Construction.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Governor Lolo Moliga quoted the words of the late Governor A.P. Lutali which present leaders and the cabinet should live by, “Action,not words.”
He extended his thanks to the director and staff of Public Works especially Joseph Pereira and Sua Pene Seloti, the contractors and the Coronavirus Task Force and DOI Field Representative Lydia Faleafine Nomura, whom he credited with securing more than $4 million from DOI which is funding this and other projects.
The governor said that the group of special skilled and technical workers arriving from Samoa tomorrow will be quarantined in the new buildings.
Rev Eleasaro Faata’a, the Chairman fo the Governing Board of the Community Health Center gave the invocation and blessed the buildings, while First Lady Cynthia Malala Moliga cut a special cake, then performed the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.
Guests who included the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tem, lawmakers and directors, took a tour of the buildings before sitting down to a lunch hosted by the Department of Health.
