Estab­lish­ment of an Inter­di­sci­pli­na­ry Child­ren’s Ward in Asma­ra

Sin­ce then, mixed con­s­truc­tion teams have been deploy­ed seve­ral times a year under the direc­tion of our con­s­truc­tion engi­neer, Nor­bert Kess­ler. Coope­ra­ti­on with the medi­cal pro­ject lea­ders is of gre­at importance, as they pro­vi­de the spe­ci­fi­ca­ti­ons for the design and use of the rooms. The pedia­tric onco­lo­gy ward in par­ti­cu­lar has spe­cial requi­re­ments regar­ding hygie­ne and func­tion. All work is car­ri­ed out tog­e­ther with the Eri­tre­an hel­pers when­ever pos­si­ble.

First, all rooms were cle­ared so that com­pres­sed air and oxy­gen could be instal­led. Old water pipes were remo­ved and new instal­la­ti­ons of water (ser­vice and drin­king water) and was­te­wa­ter were car­ri­ed out, all sup­p­ly lines were instal­led, and sinks were moun­ted. In the area of power sup­p­ly, all swit­ches, cables, dis­tri­bu­tors, sockets, and con­nec­tions were instal­led, and the pedia­tric onco­lo­gy area was equip­ped with sup­p­ly rails. New flo­o­ring was laid, and defec­ti­ve win­dows and win­dow panes were repla­ced. The ortho­pe­dic work­shop recei­ved work­ben­ches and washing tables. Addi­tio­nal nur­ses’ and doc­tors’ rooms were crea­ted and fur­nis­hed.

Befo­re the ward is com­ple­ted in spring 2025, the sus­pen­ded cei­lings in the cor­ri­dors still need to be instal­led and the cei­ling light­ing fit­ted. Hot water boi­lers, faucets, and was­te­wa­ter pipes will still be instal­led. Walls, door frames, and inte­ri­or doors will be pain­ted by the Eri­tre­an staff. The win­dows will be fit­ted with eit­her curta­ins or opaque film. Sin­ce the exte­ri­or doors are in poor con­di­ti­on, we will pro­ba­b­ly have to replace them as well. Whe­re­ver pos­si­ble, mate­ri­als available in Eritrea are sourced and pro­cu­red local­ly.