Local firm to convert Addu convention centre to hospital

Alia Construction has been awarded the transformation project of Addu City's Equatorial Convention Center (ECC) to a 100 bed tertiary hospital for MVR 161.8 million.

The project was awarded at a special signing ceremony held at housing ministry on Monday.

Housing minister Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated that this project was funded by Saudi Fund for Development and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). He said that an engineering assessment was first conducted on the ECC to ascertain the building can be transformed into a tertiary hospital.

Alia Construction with the lowest fee had won the bid for the project, which was opened for both the local and international communities on September 18. According to the housing minister, the bidding process had followed international standards.

“This decision enables maximum use of the convention centre and land of Addu City. If an entirely new building is to be developed, it would cost huge sums of money,” said Minister Muizzu.

According to Deputy housing minister Abdulla Mu’thalib, the main changes would be brought to the second floor of the building which is currently an open floor. Additionally all the rooms of the ECC will be transformed into professional medical rooms with proper interior changes.

The design and build project awarded to Alia Construction will be due in 18 months. According to the housing ministry, the funds have been secured to purchase all the equipment required for the hospital.

It is noteworthy that constructing a tertiary level hospital in the southernmost atoll of Addu is a key electoral pledge of incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom. The Equatorial Convention Center was built under the administration of former president Mohamed Nasheed to hold the SAARC Summit in 2011.

Afterwards the ECC has not been officially used till date. However, the public has raised various concerns following the current government's announcement of transforming ECC into a tertiary Hospital . In response to these, Minister Muizzu said that we need to focus on the benefits to be received with the completion of this project.