Maunabo Mayor Ángel Omar Lafuente Amaro
By THE STAR STAFF
Maunabo Mayor Ángel Omar Lafuente Amaro on Thursday presented the design of the new Diagnostic and Treatment Center (CDT by its Spanish initials) that will be built on the grounds of the old structure that was destroyed by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
The announcement represents a key step prior to the demolition and construction phases of the important project, the mayor said.
“I am proud to present to my Maunabo people the design of the most important work of our administration,” Lafuente Amaro said. “We will have a modern structure, for the well-being of all Maunabeños, neighboring municipalities and visitors.”
As part of the work agenda established by the island Department of Health, the removal of asbestos and lead in the old structure will begin at the end of this month. Demolition is scheduled for the end of March.
The mayor reiterated that the construction of a modern CDT represents the highest priority of his administration and is one of the “programmatic commitments of the Government of Puerto Rico and the Secretary of the Department of Health, Carlos Mellado.”
The project is being carried out in conjunction and coordination with representatives of the Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Maunabo’s new CDT will boast “state of the art technologies” and will meet both pediatric and adult primary health and emergency needs, including an observation area for cardiology in the adult section and a room for victims of sexual abuse. Likewise, it must have a space to provide telemedicine and another for radiology, as well as vaccination services, social work, psychiatry, and services for women, infants and children, among others.