Exim Bank of China approves loan

The Exim Development Bank of China has approved a K478 million loan for the construction of the the Enga Provincial Hospital.

This was announced by Treasurer, Patrick Pruaitch, when Parliament resumed today.

Pruaitch announced that the loan was approved on December 16 last year however, they have yet to formalise it with the signing of agreements.

He revealed this during ‘Question without Notice’ when Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, queried the funding of the Provincial Hospital.

“Once the loan agreement is signed then we will inform the Governor for the draw down to take place and the implementation of that hospital should happen in the first quarter of this year,” said Pruaitch.

Work on the proposed state of the art hospital has not progressed which Ipatas raised in Parliament saying it was a critical piece of infrastructure that was yet to be built.

“Since I got elected Enga has been contributing to the nation since 1989. The people have never, ever threatened the project in any way. To date some of the most fundamental institutions are not built in Enga.. And the Provincial Hospital Is one of them. And so it is important for this Government to give a clear indication when we can get this hospital,” said Ipatas.

The proposed state-of-the-art hospital, which will be located in Wabag, will cost K478 million  ($US 159.6 million) which is provided by the EXIM Bank.

The National Government has put K30 million in the 2016 Budget for the hospital.

The Enga Provincial Hospital, once built, will have 300 beds and provide specialised treatment.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole