Dr. Horacio E Oduber Hospital

The need of a new hospital has seen ample discussed for some time, on every level. The government finally concluded with the discussions and signed a contract to renew, enlarge and modernized the Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital. The signing took place at the Renaissance Convention Center. Those who signed were, Minister of Public Health Dr. Alex Schwengle, Minister of Infrastructure Benny Sevinger, and Prime Minister Mike Eman, representing the Aruban Government. For SOGA, the entity created to assume the project and its financing were John Hogdson and Jassy Simon. On behalf of the Aruba investment was Frendsel Giel, and for OHL: Mr. Vilar. Signing the agreement on behalf of the hospital was its Financial Director Theo de Kool.

Mr. de Kool expressed his satisfaction with this signing. It is about time for our hospital to be amplified. We, as the patients’ caretakers, have a lot to undertake. There is a big space shortage; our employees have to do their utmost to get adequate space to talk in private with the patients and their family members. The physicians and nurses also need more space to function optimally.” He believes the service of HOH will also change. There will be more for outpatient treatment; the patient can go home on the same day of their treatment. A great deal of thought has been given to the logistical requirement while the renovation and enlarging is taking place. The patients must be well accommodated while the daily work goes on. As for moving the departments, de Kool said that HOH has a team comprised of 15 persons who – for one year already – are working diligently on the necessary preparation. Now that the signing took place, “we must work together with the construction company to execute the moving plans and what must still be fixed, which emergency plans must be adapted, and how to avoid the dust becoming a hindrance. When asked how the population will be informed of these plans, de Kool answered that the HOH has a group who is in charge of informing the public by various forms of communication media. They will keep the population apprised of the latest changes in service.