The contract for the construction of the first phase of the Mental Health Centre in Nicosia was signed today, Thursday, 27 January 2022, in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr. The Contract was signed, on behalf of the Government, by the Director of the Department of Public Works Mr. Antonis Koutsoullis and, on behalf of the Contractor, Cyfield Construction Limited, by the General Manager Ms. Despina Chrysochou.
The Project will be implemented through the Design, Construction and Maintenance method and the value of the Contract amounts to €12,013,050 including VAT. The design and construction works will be completed within 24 months and the Contractor Contractor will have additional responsibility for the 12-year maintenance of the Project. How much of €6.8 million will be drawn from the 2021-2025 Recovery Fund announced by the President. The Department of Public Works will coordinate the implementation of the Project and it will be monitored by a team of Officers from the Department of Public Works, the Department of Electromechanical Services and the Control Directorate of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.
The project, whose facilities will have a total area of 4500 m², will include, among others, the following:
- 50-bed Acute Care Wards, with an ECT clinic and nursing and medical staff areas,
- 18-bed Addiction Treatment Unit with nursing and medical staff areas, a gym, an employee training room and multi-purpose occupational therapy areas,
- Exterior works and landscaping,
- Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical installations, involving both the main buildings and exterior areas,
- Demolition of existing wards/biological station and associated site remediation.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works noted that "today's signing of the Council comes to implement yet another announcement by the President of the Republic, confirming that the Government's aim is to ensure that all the necessary infrastructure is available for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the mentally ill, with full respect for their dignity and rights, based on the recommendations of modern psychiatric hospitalization".
He added that in the development of the project, all provisions were taken into account to ensure that its infrastructure is of high standards, ensuring that the building will be energy class A with low operating costs and high quality living conditions for inpatients and staff.
For his part, the Minister of Health stated that "mental health and its supporting infrastructure are a key pillar of the functioning of health services in Cyprus. For us, providing quality mental health care, especially in this difficult period of the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought with it particular challenges in the sector, is a priority. With the implementation of this important project, we will be in an even better position to respond effectively to the needs of citizens for treatment of mental illness and addictions."
(MKY)
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