Senator orders probe into Health Dept. facilities in Mayagüez region

By The Star Staff

District 4 (Mayagüez-Aguadilla) Sen. Karen Román Rodríguez referred to Resolution 37 this week to order the Senate Health Committee to conduct an exhaustive investigation into what have been reported as the deplorable conditions of Health Department facilities in the Mayagüez Region.

Román Rodríguez said a visual inspection was conducted on Jan. 30 where irregularities were cataloged that directly and adversely affect the department’s employees and citizens. During the tour, it was evident that the facilities had leaks, areas of the ceiling had come loose, exposing the beams, and in other areas, gypsum board had been replaced with cardboard. In addition, electrical wiring, including power cables, were exposed, which does not comply with requirements or building codes. Installation was also inadequate in some cases.

Moreover, bathroom plumbing, particularly the sinks, was installed incorrectly, among a host of other problems, including inappropriate connections in the drainage system, the senator noted.

Elsewhere, numerous boxes, some containing agency documentation and others with different equipment, were found in a state of general disarray. It was observed that they are not being guarded in an adequate or responsible manner.

“It is unacceptable that those who care for the health of our people work in these conditions,’ the senator said. “We will be taking all necessary measures to guarantee a dignified and adequate environment for everyone in these facilities.”