First lady unveils plans for new roatan hospital

     According to a recent Honduras This Week article, Roatan is in for some major Government funding infusions.... one specifically targeting the tourist sector and airline industry... a new, modern hospital with state of the art emergency facilities.

Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, First Lady of Honduras, came to the island on Friday, March 14 to announce the building of a new General Hospital in Dixon Cove near Vegas Electric. Here is what the First Lady had to say about the project:

"I came here specially to announce the project of the hospital to be built here on Roatan. This hospital will not only be able to serve the needs of the people of the island, but all the visitors and tourists that will be coming to the island in the future. When the hospital is completed, it will have first class facilities. There will be a surgery room, it will have the ability to do x-rays and fulfill all the other needs that the island will have. We have received a lot of help to make this project happen. The government will be using the funds gained by the forgiving of the Cerna debt. The central government makes the commitment to provide the needs to have this be a successful hospital."

When asked when this project would commence, the First Lady added: "After we receive the title of the land, we will be presenting the paperwork to the Central American Development Bank. In two weeks, they will receive and review this paperwork.  It will go to the Secretaries of Finance and Health. All the rules and needs showing how the hospital will be fully equipped inside and out will be established. We expect that by May or June of this year, we will begin the construction of the hospital. In November or December of this year, we expect that the first phase of the construction, the outpatient service for the island, to be completed."  

And the funding for this project?  We're told that all the financial resources for the construction of the hospital are close at hand. 18 million dollars are already available for the project.

A newer, modern medical facility capable of handling emergencies and be better equipped is great news for Roatan!