Construction works on the site to host the maternity of the Rohan Chabot Integrated Health Centre in Ziling, Mokolo in the Mayo Sava Division of the Far North Region will soon kick off.

This follows the laying down of the foundation stone on July 8, 2020 by the Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Mr. Jean-Christophe Heidsieck and the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Health in charge of Pandemics and Epidemics, Dr Alim Hayatou.

Laying the foundation stone at the integrated centre that spans over 100 hectares, Dr Alim Hayatou said this maternity is a fulfillment of a promise which will effectively contribute in the fight against infant and maternal mortality. He added that it is equally a show of commitment by the Ministry of Public Health to provide socio-medical amenities to communities.

He thanked the donors for this gift which he said will go a long way to save lives not only in the host community but the entire region and beyond.

On his part, the Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Mr. Jean-Christophe Heidsieck said construction works will take off immediately given that funds are already available as well was the contractors already chosen.

The maternity will be the latest building to be erected at the integrated health centre after a specialised unit to manage COVID-19 cases was recently erected. The officials used the opportunity to go round the unit as they praised the Director of the health centre Sister Marie Josephine Djoda for the quality of work at the unit.

At the end of the ceremony, the delegation also headed to the Minawawo refugee camp to evaluate the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

Fortunately, no case has so far been recorded at the camp but with the rainy season approaching with full force, cases of malaria have risen at the facility. So far, health workers at the camp say over 400 malaria cases have been recorded so far while equally requesting for more beds and space to contain the patients given that there are fears of an outbreak of measles in the camp.

The Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Alim Hayatou took note of the problems and reassured the health workers as well as refugees that a solution will be provided without delay.