Construction progresses at new diagnostic & treatment center in Maunabo

Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Executive Director Eduardo Soria Rivera with Gov. Jenniffer González Colón in January (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón)

By The Star Staff

Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3) Executive Director Eduardo Soria Rivera and Health Secretary Dr. Víctor Ramos Otero announced on Thursday significant progress in the construction of a new diagnostic and treatment center (CDT by its initials in Spanish) in Maunabo, through a $29 million allocation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program.

The CDT project is a priority for the administration of Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, who as resident commissioner secured FEMA funds, followed up on the work and as governor reiterated her commitment to expediting the construction of the new CDT, which will integrate services from the Health Department, such as the Demographic Registry, and the WIC and Medicaid programs, and will have a heliport.

“The Maunabo CDT is a priority project because of the direct impact it will have on the health and well-being of the residents of the southeast region,” Soria Rivera said. “This work is a great example of how we align federal resources with the true needs of our communities.”

The original structure of the health facility suffered catastrophic damage from Hurricane Maria, when strong winds blew off its roof and heavy rains caused severe flooding. The affected structure was demolished and all the required technical studies, including soil, lead and asbestos assessments, have already been conducted for the new project in order to guarantee the safety of personnel and patients.